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Clean truck grant is labelled 'a scam'
Page 6
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Incentive to buy environmentally friendly engines is panned for failing to deliver the cash it promised. Guy Sheppard reports.
A GOVERNMENT scheme to promote the use of low-emission vehicles has been branded a scam after funding ran out six months ahead of schedule.
The Energy Saving Trust (EST). which administers the grants for the PowerShift and Clean Up schemes, says new applicants will be put on a waiting list and all existing commitments will be honoured.
But owner-driver Mick Hodgkinson of Alfreton. Derbyshire, claims the trust has broken an agreement to pay for the maintenance of his exhaust. leaving him more than £400 out of pocket.
"It's like everything else with the government; you have to abide by their rules which stifle transport down to nothing but they don't keep their side of the bargain. It's just another government scam." Hodgkinson says that EST met most of the cost of buying a catalytic converter for his Daf artic last year, but has not paid for the tax-break maintenance.
Clive Case, transport spokes man for EST, has promised to investigate the complaint. He says the shortage of funds demonstrates the success of the grant scheme which also encourages the development of vehicles running on clean fuels such as natural gas.
He adds that next year's funding could exceed 2003's £20m from the Department for Transport, saying: -The increased demand for alternative-fuel vehicles has meant that grants have been stopped for the year. Those that have already applied will be put on a waiting list for next year's allocation."
Peter Lambert, van sales and marketing director for MercedesBenz UK, says: "The move will have a major impact on the appeal of alternative fuel vehicles. Customers will now have to redo their sums to make sure the purchase of a vehicle is economically viable."
PowerShift encourages operators to switch to greener fuels, while Clean Up funds retro-fit equipment to clean exhaust gases. Scottish grants are unaffected.