Closure of western Congestion Charge Zone 'not impacting air quality'

Date: 3/6/2011

Following the removal of the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge Zone in the capital, no significant impact has been noted in terms of air quality.

Transport for London (TfL) notes that since the initiative's closure in December 2010 following a public consultation, a lower than anticipated rise in traffic levels has been seen in the area.

Mayor of the city Boris Johnson says he is "thrilled" to see that there does not appear to have been a downside to removing the western zone, based on initial findings.

Steve Warwick, Chairman of the Federation of Small Business for the Greater London Region, adds: "Small businesses in west London will be able to go about their business without being subject to the congestion charge; an issue on which many of them voted in the last Mayoral election."

During the first 12 weeks of this year, traffic entering the zone during what would previously have been charging hours increased by eight per cent in comparison to the same period in 2010.

In March, TfL revealed that more than 100,000 drivers had signed up to its Auto Pay system, which deducts congestion charges from the credit or debit card selected by the user.

Posted by Nick Anderson