Congestion Charge

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has announced plans to increase the congestion charge for highly polluting vehicles.

Click on the video link below to watch Ken Livingstone answering some of your questions about the proposals:

Mr Livingstone also revealed that cars with the lowest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will receive a 100% discount from the daily charge.

Most drivers will still pay the £8 road toll for entering the zone which covers parts of central and west London.

The new charges come into force on 27 October this year.

Transport for London (TfL) estimates about 33,000 vehicles that will now fall into the £25 charge sector drive into London each day.

It predicts about two-thirds of these will no longer come into the charge zone once the new fee is introduced.

London's Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said the new charges were likely to bring in £30m to £50m a year, with most of this money going on new cycling and walking initiatives.

Mr Livingstone, making the announcement from City Hall on Tuesday, said: "Nobody needs to damage the environment by driving a gas-guzzling Chelsea tractor in central London.

"The CO2 emissions from the most high-powered 4x4s and sports cars can be up to four times as great as the least polluting cars."

Mixed reaction

He said TfL would closely monitor the scheme, adding that the new scheme was flexible and that the charges and exemptions could be varied in the future.

But reaction to the scheme has been mixed.

A spokesman for business group London First said it was "just daft" and - said it would "encourage gridlock".

And the National Alliance Against Tolls said: "This move is not based on logic but on the whipping up of prejudices against those who use these particular vehicles.

Draconian measure

"This is a draconian measure when emission producers such as aircraft going to Heathrow pay no taxes on fuel."

But it was welcomed by environmental groups Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth who said it will encourage people to choose greener cars.

And the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s said: "We look forward to seeing these measures finally doing something positive to reduce dirty, wasteful, unnecessarily large 4x4s and other highly polluting cars from our streets."

The congestion charge was initially introduced in February 2003 and covered just central London, with the daily charge set at £5.

Since then the charge has gone up to £8 a day and a western extension, incorporating such areas as Kensington and Chelsea, has been added.

Let us know what you think about the new Congestion charge:

Your Views

Will Mr Livingstone's changes take into account the fact that some large vehicles emit very little pollution due to efficient catalytic convertors and engine management systems?   Or will the charge be applied willy-nilly to vehicles whose size and appearance complies with his prejudices against "Chelsea tractors"?

Ed Marks

I'm delighted with news that the higher rate charge is coming into force. It will certainly drive behaviour!

Regarding the minimum 120g/km, I notice that more and more cars are being produced that come under this level, including BMW, Audi Citroen/Peugeot/Toyota and several others;.  While the take up of these cars would ensure clearer air, we may see an increase in traffic volume. As a resident within the zone, i would be keen to know the Mayor's plans for continuously reviewing the thresholds (i.e. lower them)

Tobias

Please explain how allowing more  greener cars in the zone for free, will reduce congestion. Surely we will still have congestion, but with lots of smaller and greener cars? Is seems pollution and congestion have got mixed up.

I can now buy a hybrid, and go round town on journeys, I would not have used my car for before.

Lenny Rothstein

Instead of another 'tax' on the inhabitants of London, why not have all buses and taxis run on clean fuels?  Delhi has its entire bus fleet and auto rickshaws all running on compressed natural gas (CNG) or (LPG).  If Delhi can do why can't London?

Londoner are very skeptical as to whether the congestion charge fees actually go towards cleaning the environment.

Anonymous

Why is the answer to everything that is a problem always "TAX IT HEAVILY".  Why don't we find other ways to solve our problems.  This is Government wide.

By the way I don't own a car and travel into the city every day on the bus and train.

Alan Branford

Mr Livingstone says that the new charges for the Congestion Zone will help to at reduce London's car emissions. In that case why are ALL vehicles exempt from the congestion charge after 6pm and at weekends? Or do cars only pollute Monday to Friday during daylight hours?

Gwilym Rees-Jones 

I support the congestion charge and the need to protect the environment. But the congestion Charge appears to be turning into a pollution charge. When can we expect its name to change. If low emission vehicles are going to be exempt won't congestion start increasing as low emission vehicles become more numerous?

Martin Jewitt

I can't believe Ken Livingstone is going ahead with his latest change to the Congestion Zone. The Congestion Zone was introduced to lower the amount of vehicles driving into central London, hence its name and with great success it has been. So what happens if the majority of drivers who used to drive into London, go out and buy a band A or B car we will be back to square one, pre 2003. I myself will now seriously think of changing my car from a band C. The free road through the centre of London works very well, I know as I am a daily user of it.

Chris

Will this increase all go back in to public transport, or are Capita going to make even more money out of Londoners?. The only reason that these increases have happened is because the congestion charge project was out sourced to Capita, who ended up making millions, whilst TFL had no money ploughed in. The only people to profit from this were those in the private sector. Not the general public as you promised

Scott

Why has Ken Livingstone changed the congestion charge by relaxing the cost on the majority of cars in london, while the remaining cars pay through the nose to account for this free journey for the majority. This new scheme is not even a congeston charge, if it applies only to the most polluting cars. It has become a pollution charge, and why should drivers who choose a larger car, to avoid the taxes and pollution of air travel, have to pay more for the decrease in pollution from aeroplanes.

16-year-old, future voter

Personally, I applaud the mayor, who I don’t always agree with, for having the guts to tackle this issue.  With the London low emission zone and this new idea to keep out the most heavily polluting vehicles – great idea.

It must be targeted at those vehicles with high emissions, though – not just on engine size, though the two do often go hand in hand it’s true.

I found that each winter, I get a cough that lasts all winter and I'm convinced that air pollution is to blame.

This government does not do enough to tackle this and global warming issues.  It talks a lot, but does nothing to discourage the manufacture of fuel guzzlers.  And while I’m at it, which idiot came up with the idea of masses of pretty, energy burning lights in the ceilings of our homes.  That should be banned too!

Michael Grantham

How can you justify this charge under the idea that 4 x 4's harm the environment when you jet off around the world on a plane? What about the harm that has caused the environment, yet again this is your way of stealing more money from tax payers to fund your ego. Your office is full of corruption and lies for once i would like to find a politician that actually tells the truth, but i fear that will never happen.

Paul Hampson

I think it is preposterous to create this legislation, more buses and lorries cause more pollution than these types of vehicles, you only tax us because you know we can afford it.

William Smith, Surrey

Driving a 25 year old car that I bought from new it burns the same amount of petrol as modern engines. But because of your CON charge it cannot be replaced, because thousands of pounds has gone to you instead of getting a new car. What do you say about that!

Anonymous

I have a range rover and had it converted to LPG, my emissions are nearly zero and would like to know from old Ken how I go about getting my rangie registered as such and con charge free.

Sean O'Maldaomnaig

I am having LPG put on my 4x4 which will make it greener than most small family saloon cars, as you are aware that Lpg is an environmental friendly fuel system. my car was registered after the 1st of march 2001 so why will i be penalised for driving into london when i have made an effort to make my car better for the enviroment. it will therefore not be a gas guzzling car but because it is a 4x4 i will be charge this over the top tax

Charles London

Why oh why is he allowed to act without consultation or accountability to higher Government. London is now at the mercy of a thief and his band of profiteering henchmen. Where have the improved traffic flows promised gone. All I see is raising revenue and nothing going back to help businesses. He must be stopped before he puts all our businesses at risk!!!!

Jeremy Kicks