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London congestion zone 'to shrink'

24/05/2010

London's congestion zone is set to shrink by roughly half at the end of 2010 - although charges are to rise in the remaining area next year.

The proposed changes, which have been announced today by Transport for London (TfL), are now in the final stage of a public consultation. If they are approved, the last day of charging for the so-called Western Extension of the scheme would be on Christmas Eve this year.

According to the proposal by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, scrapping the 2007 extension - which covers Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill and Knightsbridge - would mean that the charging zone reverts to "substantially the same boundaries" that were covered by the original scheme.

Those people who currently benefit from a 90% resident's discount because they live in or adjacent to the Western Extension are set to lose this perk.

And the proposals would mean that charges would increase in the remaining area from 4 January 2011. Currently, road users pay an £8 daily fee to use the congestion zone, or £10 if they pay the following day. These fees are set to rise to £10 and £12 respectively.

When the scheme was introduced in 2003, the charge was £5.

The proposals also include an auto-pay system linked to a credit or debit card, with the intention of making it easier to pay the charges. Users would qualify for a discounted £9 daily rate, TfL says, and avoid ever being issued with a penalty charge notice for forgetting to pay.

Mr Johnson highlighted this point, speaking of his 'delight' that the changes "should mean no one need ever be fined again". He added that the central charging zone needs "to be administered more fairly and straightforwardly".

"West London never wanted the Western Extension and it is right that residents there can now tell us whether this Christmas should see the end of it," he added.

However, AA president Edmund King questioned whether the potential rise in pricing represented value for money for users.

Speaking in the Telegraph he said: "This would mean that the congestion charge has doubled in just seven years while congestion has got worse."

Urban road charging has proved unpopular when residents themselves have had a chance to block proposals. A public referendum in Greater Manchester for a prospective scheme saw all 10 boroughs vote overwhelmingly against it.

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