TfL are proposing to raise the London Congestion Charge (a.k.a. tax) to £18 per day from £15 (or £21 if you pay late). There is a public consultation which you can access from this page: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/congestion-charge-proposals but don’t expect Mayor Sadiq Khan to pay much attention to the responses.
He needs the extra money raised to fill his budget incompetence. The Congestion Charging scheme was introduced in February 2003 with an initial fee of £5. TfL claim that “Since its introduction the primary objective of the scheme has been to manage traffic and congestion in central London by imposing a charge during the busiest times of day”. This is bullshit of course. It’s always been about raising tax revenue and has not reduced traffic congestion. Like all taxes, once introduced it gradually gets increased over the years without any proper analysis of the benefits or costs.
Changes to electric vehicle and resident’s discounts are also proposed.
Irrespective of the low chance of attention being paid to any responses, please respond to the public consultation. Tell them that there should be a proper cost/benefit justification provided.
FFDF analysis of the London Congestion Charge: https://www.freedomfordrivers.org/congestion
Roger Lawson (Twitter: https://x.com/Drivers_London )
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The congestion charge was imposed before deregulation was even tried, despite it being obvious that traffic lights – those weapons of mass distraction, danger and delay – cause congestion, and their absence enables traffic and the milk of human kindness to flow. So yes, like the fabricated crime of speeding, the con charge is an extortion racket.
As I pass just to the East of Heathrow on the M4 there is a speed limit of 60mph “to preserve air quality”. Can I ignore it Mr Khan if I have an electric car?