Monday 7th July 2008

C-Charge Hours Could Be Cut

Mayor could reduce C-Charge operation to rush hours only

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London’s congestion charge could be limited to just a few hours a day, it has been reported. Mayor Boris Johnson is looking to overhaul the controversial scheme to make it fairer for motorists.

He is considering scrapping the unpopular West London extension of the the £8 charge and now wants to amend the times the charge is in place. Charges could be reduced to a few hours a day during the busiest periods and a flat-rate cost may be removed.

Quieter periods could warrant a discount and at some times during the day there may be no charge. Kulveer Ranger, the mayor’s director of transport, has told The Times newspaper that the information gleaned from a review of the western extension would be used to assess the entire system.

Currently any vehicle that moves inside the London zone between 7am and 6pm is charged but this could be amended just to target those who commute by car.

Mr Ranger said: ‘Flexibility around hours of operation, flexibility around how it is charged; all of those things are options we’re looking to consider. The mayor has been absolutely clear that he wants to make it fairer for people, not so much as a blunt tool, but something that’s a bit more well managed and gives people a bit more flexibility in terms of how it's operated. It would be about how you apply it to either the whole, or what would be the impact of applying it to parts.’

[thenick]

Go Boris!

[Alpine110]

At last !!! someone sensible

[simonjrwinter]

YE GODS....COMMON SENSE! Whatever next!

[bigburd]

Scaled charging much better...I don't think people mind paying for services as long as they get something for it.

Toll Roads : I am happy to pay the M6 toll as it is far better road than the M6

Thames Crossing : I despise the fact that a car derived van (pug 205/escort) pays the full van charge

Congestion Charge : scaled charge helps shift workers who may travel in or out during a non charging period but the other part of their commute is not so they get stung the full amount. Make sure peak time includes the school run.


Problem is how do you reduce the people carrier/chelsea tractor brigade?

[mx-tro]

The Western extension was a cynical exercise to raise more cash and increase congestion. Hopefully this will signal the beginning of considered policies to tackle the issues of congestion in London.

[chris7676]

What a thicko. Now it will costs even more with variable fees, exceptions. Soon we will hear about congestion charge tax credits... Will they never learn?

Edited by chris7676 on Monday 7th July 12:34

[stretchs2k]

Some sort of tag like the french use at the payage would be great. No worrying whether or not you have paid, especially if the times/rates are changing.

[Chris_R]

Seems like a good idea to me. At peak times cost equals more.
Should hopefully discourage our reliance on 9 to 5 working and being in an office

[Double R]

Good news indeed. In this way the system will starve of cash and eventually the firms running this congestion charge system will pull out... without explicitly cancelling the CC program Boris is reaching the same effect. Love it!

Edited by Double R on Monday 7th July 13:29

[Horse_Apple]

I think that this idea has definate merit.

What is interesting though is that it only takes me 35 minutes to cross the whole of London via the City during rush hour but can be double that time mid morning through to mid afternoon. In my experience the traffic is worse out of rush hour and I suspect such a system wouldn't work.

I believe that the core element that adds more to traffic on the outskirts of the City than anything else is the the school trip.

You can fly round London during the school holidays but for example, on a normal day, if I leave at 8am then it will take me up to 30 minutes to wind my way through the Valiumed, 4x4 driving (in the loosest term) bints shovelling their fat sproggs around.

Some sensible system to address this problem is probably more prudent.

[posterboy]

thenick said:

Go Boris!

+1

[logoman]

Go Kulveer Ranger!

[OperationAlfa]

Boris for PM!

[Dr G]

We're all going to get shafted by this lot in some way or another, but it isn't half nice to be bought dinner first

[CampDavid]

Silly Boris. Doesn't he realise that the congestion charge is there to make money out of motorists? If he can't even competently flease those with enough money to pay to drive through London what hop does the bloke have of replicating any of Ken's great money blowing schemes.

Soon we'll all be free to live without being taxed left right and centre but Boris and his Mayoral team won't be able to pay for there massive expenses claims

[Skodaku]

logoman said:

Go Kulveer Ranger!

er...............I've never heard of Kulveer. What does the "Ranger" look like ? Is it an SUV ? Do they make any others ?

[mantra]

bigburd said:

Problem is how do you reduce the people carrier/chelsea tractor brigade?

Now that all have to display the white tube sign, have you noticed how 90% of people carriers are in fact london licenced mini-cabs??

[king arthur]

mantra said:

bigburd said:

Problem is how do you reduce the people carrier/chelsea tractor brigade?

Now that all have to display the white tube sign, have you noticed how 90% of people carriers are in fact london licenced mini-cabs??

Yes I was going to mention that. Go into London during the day and try and spot the private cars, there aren't many. It's all buses, taxis, vans and mini cabs.

[johndps]

Said it as soon as he became mayor.
Best way to increase his popularity and guarantee re-election is scrap the congestion charge.
Now all it will take for the tories to landslide the next general election is for them to promise a cap on the amount of tax on fuel.
Job done.

[jvaughan]

Go go Boris.
Having donated £60 to Ken for leaving the extended area 3 minutes past 7 in the morning, its nice to see a sensible person st the Helm.