Tuesday 8th July 2008

No Congestion Charge Increase

Boris quashes proposed rise

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London Mayor Boris Johnson has abandoned plans to raise the congestion charge for vehicles claimed to be the most polluting.

I did it for you PH

Ken Kivingstone proposed to raise the charge from £8 to £25 from October, and Boris has said all along that he would scrap these plans if he won the Mayoral elections.

Ken had also proposed that low emission vehicles would be allowed free entry into the congestion charge zone, but a study into the plan reported that this would encourage smaller vehicles into London which would increase pollution and congestion.

Boris agreed saying "I believe the proposal would have made congestion worse by allowing small cars in for free" he went on to say "I am delighted that we have been able to scrap the £25 charge, which would have hit families and small businesses hardest"

While Boris claims abandoning the proposal will save £10 million and achieve a 'fairer and more effective charge' Ken said ditching the charge was 'a further blow' to tackling climate change

Porsche contested the increase and Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche Cars Great Britain said: "We were always confident that our legal case was right and that we would win in the end"

"The charge was clearly unfair and was actually going to increase emissions in London. Porsche is proud to have played a decisive role in striking down such a blatantly political tax increase targeting motorists."

TfL was ordered by the High Court to pay Porsche's legal costs. Porsche has announced that the money would be donated to the youth charity Skidz.

[Jimbo_vx]

Nice one Boris, finally some common sense.

Good on Porche to be donating their legal fees too.