Congestion charging reaches first anniversary
Ken Livingstone is today expected to spell out the benefits and drawbacks of congestion charging in the capital.
On the first anniversary since the controversial plan was implemented, a report will note its success in reducing traffic levels.
Congestion charging – which runs between 07:00 GMT and 18:30 GMT Monday to Friday in an eight mile area of central London – is estimated to have reduced some journey times by around 15 per cent.
One of the biggest problems has been the lack of revenue accrued, the Mayor is likely to say.
Mr Livingstone’s advice to other cities thinking of adopting the scheme, such as Edinburgh, is: “Don’t do it for the money.”
He told BBC’s Newsnight Scotland: “Only do it if the objective is to reduce congestion because if you want to raise funds there are much easier ways of doing it than the congestion charge.”
Tory mayoral candidate Steve Norris has pledged to abolish the scheme if elected in June.
“The congestion charge has reduced traffic inside the charging zone but the price London has paid for that reduction is simply unacceptable,” he said.
“The scheme runs at a loss – a far cry from the £200 million it was supposed to raise.”
Meanwhile, 72.2 per cent of London businesses say the scheme is working, according to a survey by London First, the pro-business lobby group.
London First asked 500 businesses for their thoughts on the scheme. In the wake of congestion charging, half of the respondents said bottom line costs were unchanged year on year.
