Congestion charge extension to be abolished

Date: 21/10/2010

The western extension of London's congestion charge will be removed by Christmas, the mayor has announced.

Boris Johnson also confirmed several other changes to the scheme, including the introduction of an automatic payment scheme.

The decision to scrap the extension is based on a Transport for London public consultation that found 62 per cent of respondents backed its removal.

Mr Johnson said: "The people of west London had the western extension unfairly foisted upon them and they have now voiced their antipathy for it loud and clear on several occasions."

It is vital the congestion charge is made fairer and more effective, but also that it continues to act as a deterrent to all but essential journeys into central London, he continued.

To this end, the daily charge has now increased to £10, but motorists will obtain a discount of £1 if they use the new automatic payment system, the mayor added.

Editor of TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk Faye Sunderland recently suggested the congestion charge should be changed to a system that is based on cars' CO2 emissions.

Posted by Mary Treen