The controversial western extension of London’s congestion zone is to be scrapped, Boris Johnson has revealed. The London Mayor launched a consultation into the charge shortly after he was elected and found 67% of respondents said they wanted the extended levy removed.
He announced today that he is to begin legal procedures to remove the £8-a-day charge. Last February the charge was extended to much of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea in west London.
The charge is expected to be removed by spring 2010 at the earliest. Mr Johnson said: 'Londoners have spoken loud and clear, and the majority of people have said that they would like the scheme scrapped. One thing everybody should be assured of is my determination to make it easier for Londoners to get around our great city.'
Around 28,000 people responded and 86% of businesses said they did not want the charge. Labour responded to the move by saying Johnson had made a mistake. The party’s transport spokesperson Val Shawcross said: ‘The rolling back of the congestion charge is a foolish and backward step by Boris Johnson. It will lose Transport for London (TfL) £70m a year that could have been spent on improving our public transport system, and will increase traffic and air pollution in one of the dirtiest and noisiest areas of central London.’
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