London C-Charge on the chopping block?
London's Congestion Charge scheme may soon be coming to an end. Mayor Boris Johnson has already canceled the planned congestion zone expansion into western London and the residents of Manchester recently voted down a similar C-Charge plan by a huge margin. Now, Johnson is saying he has not ruled out a complete abandonment of the entire system. Back in 2003 when the C-Charge was first instituted, the goal of reducing traffic on London's busiest thoroughfares seemed noble enough, and the city could surely use the extra income generated by the £8 charge to enter the CCZ and the fines of between £60 and £180 for non-payment. Now, though, Johnson is considering putting the kibosh on the entire thing due to the downturn of the global economy.In the meantime, Londoners looking to get their last-minute shopping done for the holiday season won't need to worry about the charges until after January 1, as Johnson has extended the normal Christmas-season suspension of the C-Charges until the new year.
[Source: PistonHeads]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 10:17AM (12/19/2008)
Despite what he might say, Boris is a bad as all the other right-wingers in this respect.
One of his first acts as mayor was to cancel all the London alternative energy projects that his predecessor had started and shortly after his election, free parking for EVs in the city was ended.
This is a man who was elected on the back of his single "ban bendy-buses" policy and his appearances on TV. Now we are starting to find out what he is really about.
Reply
Stan Wellaway 11:27AM (12/19/2008)
Hmmm.. I wonder. Boris Johnson is reportedly a friend of Lord Jamie Borwick, boss of the electric vehicles maker Modec (modecZEV.com).
EVs are exempt from the congestion charge, and this cost advantage ios one of their selling points. That advantage would be lost if the C-charge scheme is scrapped.
I wonder if we might hear that Boris has weighed it up and decided not to scrap it?
Mind you, Jamie's wife Victoria Borwick, who originally stood against Boris for election as mayor but later backed him, is a longstanding opponent of the C-charge despite her husband's interest.
Reply