Possible congestion charge rise leaves opponents fuming
The prospect of a rise in the London congestion charge from next July has left opponents furious.
On Tuesday, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, announced that he will be asking Transport for London to consult on a possible rise from £5 to £8 for private cars, and to £7 for commercial fleet vehicles.
Accompanying the headline rise would be discounts for those who pay on a monthly or annual basis, a permanent three uncharged days at Christmas and a reduction in commercial fleet size from 25 to 10 vehicles in order to qualify for eligibility for the fleet automated payments scheme.
Speaking earlier, Mr Livingstone said: “The congestion charge has been an unprecedented success in dramatically reducing congestion, pollution and accidents. The reliability of bus services has been transformed by the fall in traffic. We need to maintain and build upon this.
“I am proposing one large increase in this Mayoral term to maintain the effectiveness of the charge and raise additional revenues to further reduce congestion as part of Transport for London’s £10 billion, 5 year investment programme.”
The changes would be subject to a public consultation, with implication possible from July 2005.
Shadow Transport Secretary, Tim Yeo, warned that the change would “hit businesses hard and hurt those who still travel in London by car. This is yet another increase in the tax burden on motorists and Conservatives are wholly opposed to it.”
He added: “Perhaps if he was a bit more efficient at collecting the charge, Londoners would not now have to cough up even more to get to work.”
The London Assembly Conservatives were even more forthright. Their spokesman, Angie Bray, said: “The old Red-Ken has reared his ugly head again-breaking promises and raising taxes. But this time he has surpassed himself with a massive 60 per cent increase, in one go.”
“This rise will be bad for business, bad for key workers such as teachers who have to enter the zone, and bad for all hardworking Londoners who already pay too much tax.”
