Split congestion zone in two

Labour's transport lead on the London Assembly has called on Mayor Boris Johnson to split the congestion charge zone in two, rather than halving its size by scrapping the western extension.

Responding to the Mayor's consultation on removal of the western zone, Labour Assembly member, Val Shawcross, says it would be "madness" to go ahead with the plan, which would lose Transport for London between £50m - £70m a year in revenue.

Instead, the Mayor should consider turning the western extension into a separate zone with its own rules, operating times and charging structure.

West London residents would not have to pay to drive in the new zone but would lose the discount they currently enjoy for driving into central London.

Urging Londoners to respond to the consultation and vote to keep the western extension, Labour's transport spokesperson on the London Assembly, Val Shawcross, said: "London is about to face huge cuts to its transport budget and huge fines for our bad air so it's just madness to throw away such a successful source of so much revenue.

"Instead of halving the zone's size - with all the associated health, environmental and economic cost implications - we need to look at a more intelligent way forward. Splitting it in two would be in the best interests of London and would allow the income to reinvested in lower fares or transport improvements."

TfL predict there could be a 15 per cent increase in traffic levels in the zone as a direct consequence of removing the western extension zone(1). They expect to lose up to £70m of revenue every year (2).

The western extension of the congestion charge led to a decrease in motor vehicles entering the zone of 14 per cent. TfL estimated that around 30 per cent of those previously entering the zone by car chose to walk, cycle or travel by public transport instead. There was a 12 per cent increase in the number of people entering the zone by bicycle (3)

Since introducing congestion charging, London has become the only major city in the world to achieve a shift away from private car use to public transport, cycling and walking. This was achieved through a period of sustained economic and population growth. Cycling  in London has increased by 91 per cent since 2000.

Val Shawcross's submission to the consultation, which closes on 2 August, is attached. The proposal to split the zone in half is on page five. Londoners can respond to the consultation here 
 
Notes

1) Mayoral answer to the London Assembly (25 February 2009) http://mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=25116

2) Mayoral answer to the London Assembly (15 October 2008) http://mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=23419

3) Central London Congestion Charging: Impacts Monitoring, Sixth Annual Report, Transport for London, July 2008.