Red Ken listens to the people re: Congestion Charge
Discussion
And totally ignores them...
More of New Labour's 'Democracy in Action'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4296968.stm
[quote=bbc]Congestion charge zone to expand
The London congestion charge zone is to be extended to include Kensington and Chelsea, the Mayor has announced.
From February 2007, motorists will have to pay £8 on weekdays when crossing the new boundary in west London.
Critics say extending the zone will push traffic into Hammersmith and Fulham and could kill off local trade.
Ken Livingstone also announced that from September 2006 drivers could pay the current central London charge the day after travelling in the zone.
Currently drivers must pay in advance or on the day of travelling.
When the Chelsea and Kensington extension comes into effect, charging hours will end 30 minutes earlier at 6pm.
'Second chance'
A Transport for London survey showed 63% of residents and 72% of firms were opposed to the western extension.
Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesman Geoff Pope said the extension decision "flew in the face of common sense" and was "the wrong scheme at the wrong time".
Referring to London's falling retail figures, London Chamber of Commerce press and public affairs director Dan Bridgett said: "This is a bad decision at the worst possible time".
He added that the message that most companies opposed the extension had been "received, understood and blatantly ignored".
But the Mayor said the extension would reduce traffic in the zone by up to 22%, shaving five minutes off a typical journey time.
"Extending the existing zone will bring considerable benefits to this area of London," he said.
'Mayor not persuaded'
He said he did not dismiss residents' and companies' concerns out of hand but that he was not persuaded that representations outweighed arguments in favour of the extension.
He added he was well aware only 24% of the public responses to the consultation on the extension supported the proposal but he was satisfied there had been genuine consultation.
He also said he felt objectors had had a proper opportunity to voice their concerns and it was not necessary to hold an inquiry into the extension scheme.
In April, about 100 vehicles held a go-slow protest over extension plans.
At the time Gordon Taylor, chairman of the West London Residents' Association, said there was anger over the extension.
Campaigners said the extension was unfair, saying only 5% of the roads covered in the extended zone suffer congestion.
Businesses in the area spoke of fears of falling trade when the charge comes into force.
The central area of London has been subject to a congestion charge for vehicles since February 2003. It went up from £5 to £8 a day in July this year. [/quote]
More of New Labour's 'Democracy in Action'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4296968.stm
[quote=bbc]Congestion charge zone to expand
The London congestion charge zone is to be extended to include Kensington and Chelsea, the Mayor has announced.
From February 2007, motorists will have to pay £8 on weekdays when crossing the new boundary in west London.
Critics say extending the zone will push traffic into Hammersmith and Fulham and could kill off local trade.
Ken Livingstone also announced that from September 2006 drivers could pay the current central London charge the day after travelling in the zone.
Currently drivers must pay in advance or on the day of travelling.
When the Chelsea and Kensington extension comes into effect, charging hours will end 30 minutes earlier at 6pm.
'Second chance'
A Transport for London survey showed 63% of residents and 72% of firms were opposed to the western extension.
Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesman Geoff Pope said the extension decision "flew in the face of common sense" and was "the wrong scheme at the wrong time".
Referring to London's falling retail figures, London Chamber of Commerce press and public affairs director Dan Bridgett said: "This is a bad decision at the worst possible time".
He added that the message that most companies opposed the extension had been "received, understood and blatantly ignored".
But the Mayor said the extension would reduce traffic in the zone by up to 22%, shaving five minutes off a typical journey time.
"Extending the existing zone will bring considerable benefits to this area of London," he said.
'Mayor not persuaded'
He said he did not dismiss residents' and companies' concerns out of hand but that he was not persuaded that representations outweighed arguments in favour of the extension.
He added he was well aware only 24% of the public responses to the consultation on the extension supported the proposal but he was satisfied there had been genuine consultation.
He also said he felt objectors had had a proper opportunity to voice their concerns and it was not necessary to hold an inquiry into the extension scheme.
In April, about 100 vehicles held a go-slow protest over extension plans.
At the time Gordon Taylor, chairman of the West London Residents' Association, said there was anger over the extension.
Campaigners said the extension was unfair, saying only 5% of the roads covered in the extended zone suffer congestion.
Businesses in the area spoke of fears of falling trade when the charge comes into force.
The central area of London has been subject to a congestion charge for vehicles since February 2003. It went up from £5 to £8 a day in July this year. [/quote]
"...He added he was well aware only 24% of the public responses to the consultation on the extension supported the proposal but he was satisfied there had been genuine consultation..."
Very similar to the percentage who voted for Labour in the last election.So it must be what the people want then. Democracy..I don't think so.
Very similar to the percentage who voted for Labour in the last election.So it must be what the people want then. Democracy..I don't think so.
Cretinous Ken said:
But the Mayor said the extension would reduce traffic in the zone by up to 22%....
....because nobody will go showing at Harrods/visit the V&A, Science Museum, Natural History Museum if it costs £8 just to drive there.
Cretinous Ken said:
"Extending the existing zone will bring considerable benefits to this area of London," he said.
'Mayor not persuaded'
He said he did not dismiss residents' and companies' concerns out of hand but that he was not persuaded that representations outweighed arguments in favour of the extension.
He added he was well aware only 24% of the public responses to the consultation on the extension supported the proposal but he was satisfied there had been genuine consultation.
He also said he felt objectors had had a proper opportunity to voice their concerns and it was not necessary to hold an inquiry into the extension scheme.
So that is his idea of democracy....24% in favour (76% against therefore).
The sooner someone removes this cretin the better.
>> Edited by vetteheadracer on Friday 30th September 14:29
JagLover said:
Why did Londoners vote this muppet in?
It was perfectly obvious what he would be like from the last time!
Because that's the sort of mayor the majority of Londoners want. It is one of the reasons I hate living in London.
I disagree actually, I have yet to actually meet anyone who voted for him.
I hate to say it lest i be accused of racism / un PCness, but I believe the majority of people who voted for him were a mix of the less well off section of londons society and the immigrant population.
JagLover said:
Why did Londoners vote this muppet in?
It was perfectly obvious what he would be like from the last time!
Because that's the sort of mayor the majority of Londoners want. It is one of the reasons I hate living in London.
London enjoys the wonderful irony of being politically almost entirely socialist, whilst at the same time being one of the centres of international capitalism. JagLover said:How many Labour voters live within in the Kengestion zone? Not many...
Why did Londoners vote this muppet in?
It was perfectly obvious what he would be like from the last time!
Because that's the sort of mayor the majority of Londoners want. It is one of the reasons I hate living in London.
How many live within the Kensington and Chelsea extension? An even smaller fraction!
JagLover said:
Why did Londoners vote this muppet in?
It was perfectly obvious what he would be like from the last time!
Because that's the sort of mayor the majority of Londoners want. It is one of the reasons I hate living in London.
Actually most people didn't vote for him.I think he got 40% of them.(Of course it all depends how you define "majority"
)Tank Slapper said:
Why did Londoners vote this muppet in?
It was perfectly obvious what he would be like from the last time!
I thought it was rather that ambivalence kept him in.
Interesting to choose to target K&C, on an income basis there are other boroughs which would have been more appropriate.
JagLover said:
Why did Londoners vote this muppet in?
It was perfectly obvious what he would be like from the last time!
Because that's the sort of mayor the majority of Londoners want. It is one of the reasons I hate living in London.
I didn't vote for the son of a...
dds1 said:
I disagree actually, I have yet to actually meet anyone who voted for him.
I hate to say it lest i be accused of racism / un PCness, but I believe the majority of people who voted for him were a mix of the less well off section of londons society and the immigrant population.
I don't see how identifying voting patterns can get you accused of racism.
and you are probably right; Ken was one of the leaders of the suffocating wave of PC's that has swept over this country.
puggit said:
Tank Slapper said:
Why did Londoners vote this muppet in?
It was perfectly obvious what he would be like from the last time!
Because that's the sort of mayor the majority of Londoners want. It is one of the reasons I hate living in London.
How many Labour voters live within in the Kengestion zone? Not many...
How many live within the Kensington and Chelsea extension? An even smaller fraction!
And there is the reason why the congestion charge will never spread to East London - an area with far greater traffic issues than the West End but full of Labour voters !!
its the spiteful old loony left getting some revenge on the taxpayers who voted for mrs t in the 1980s,
redistributing wealth to the bad-back, walking stick carrying in the pub at 11.30 am types who are paid out of our wages!
incidentally my mrs is a nurse, last weekend she did two extra night shifts hoping to have a few quid to pay some bills etc.
nearly 50% went in tax, why work extra hours to pay for the cider that causes the chavs to get pissed and turn up at a and e ?
under these morons the idle are better off and the hardworking get the privilige of paying for the idle and the tossers who pupport to be a government!
scum one and all!
redistributing wealth to the bad-back, walking stick carrying in the pub at 11.30 am types who are paid out of our wages!
incidentally my mrs is a nurse, last weekend she did two extra night shifts hoping to have a few quid to pay some bills etc.
nearly 50% went in tax, why work extra hours to pay for the cider that causes the chavs to get pissed and turn up at a and e ?
under these morons the idle are better off and the hardworking get the privilige of paying for the idle and the tossers who pupport to be a government!
scum one and all!
@ MBHGassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff