During the last metropolitan council of December 16, 2021, elected officials voted for two wishes to limit the financial impact of the Low Emission Zone (ZFE) on the poorest households. It is a question of appealing to the State, and to the regional and departmental councils to intensify the already existing aid. In particular, it is a question of a 0 “sustainable mobility” rate loan for the purchase of a clean vehicle.

The Low Emission Zone (ZFE) which is to be set up in Toulouse has come under strong criticism from opponents who fear an attack on the purchasing power of motorists, having to change vehicles to be able to travel in the Pink City. . Even within the municipal majority of Toulouse, the chosen device had been debated. In order to reduce the social inequalities induced by this device, the Toulouse Métropole Council voted two wishes on December 16.

Amplification of aid to low-income households

The first wish, adopted by 88 votes out of 130, was formulated by the majority of Jean-Luc Moudenc. In this text, Toulouse Métropole calls on the State to amplify its aid measures aimed at the less well-off households who would need to change vehicles and the Occitanie Region to make its own consistent with those of the Metropolis.

Indeed, the latter has already put in place aid for the most modest and young people since October 2020. Under conditions of resources, the inhabitants of the metropolis can thus obtain financial support “for the purchase, rental or conversion of a vehicle with a ceiling of 40% of the amount excluding tax depending on the type of vehicle, ”reminds the community.

For its part, the State offers several different aids such as the ecological bonus, the first for conversion or those from the recovery plan. At the same time, the Occitanie Region has rolled out mobility eco-vouchers. But for the elected representatives of the Metropolitan Council, “they are not sufficient in these complicated times for our most disadvantaged fellow citizens”.

As for the Department, elected officials assess its participation in the collective effort, with regard to its skills in matters of solidarity. “Jean-Luc Moudenc has indeed seized the community on this subject and the question is under investigation”, one confirms boulevard de la Marquette.

A “0-rate sustainable mobility loan”

The second wish, adopted unanimously, was presented by the Métropole Solidaire, Écologique et Démocratique group, adopted by Karine Traval-Michelet, the socialist mayor of Colomiers. Local elected officials are asking the government to set up a “0 sustainable mobility rate loan”. Because, according to them, if the aid generated by the institutions remains substantial, the remainder is still too important for a good number of households. “Without strong support measures, the risk induced by the establishment of the ZFE is to prevent access to the territories concerned by its perimeter to the most modest people”, specifies Fabien Jouvé, municipal councilor of Colomiers and rapporteur of the wish.

All the more so as the existing alternatives are not adapted, as the metropolitan elected officials point out: the modalities of microcredits are insufficient and the interest rates too high. As for the version of the 0-rate loan included in the “Climate and Resilience” law, it turns out to be too limited in time, too restrictive in terms of the vehicles concerned and its entry into force (January 2023) appears too late.

The “sustainable mobility PTZ”, which would be guaranteed by the State, “could enter into force earlier (from March 31, 2022), would expand the list of vehicles concerned, accommodate bicycles and would contact the all households whose tax income does not exceed 21,400 euros per room. Its amount could not exceed 33% of the price of the vehicle and could be supplemented by an advance of reimbursement of aid for the purchase of a cleaner vehicle ”, launched the elected officials.

Such a device is also currently being studied in the National Assembly, following a bill from the socialist deputy Gérard Leseul. By adopting this wish, the Toulouse Métropole council declares itself in favor of its establishment.