Ford Displays Healing Heroes Network Shelby...
London mayor Johnson fulfills campaign promise to stop c-charge hike

London mayor Johnson fulfills campaign promise to stop c-charge hike

Nelson Ireson July 7th, 2008 Nelson Ireson By Nelson Ireson Author July 7th, 2008
  • Articles Contributed: 1707
  • Comments Posted: 0
  • Leaderboard Rank: N/A

December 31st, 1969 Boris Johnson, London’s mayor and the replacement to Ken Livingstone, has scrapped the plan to triple the city's controversial congestion charge on heavier-emissions vehicles. Widespread public and corporate opposition and an estimated £123 million cost have posed strong arguments against the increased congestion charge, as has the result of the Mayoral election itself, which many considered a referendum on the charge. The end to the planned rise will save small businesses and families hundreds or even thousands of pounds per year. Plans had been put in place by Livingstone to see the daily c-charge upped to £25 ($45) in October, but Johnson's action upheld a campaign promise to keep the rise from going into place, reports Bloomberg. "I am delighted that we have been able to scrap the £25 charge, which would have hit families and small businesses hardest," said Johnson. The rise would have applied to cars that emit more than 225g/km CO2. The news of the repeal follows Johnson’s confirmation that he would not be expanding the measure into the capital city’s suburbs. Nevertheless, the Mayor is still committed to enhancing walking and bicycling throughout the city. “I am not going to be having any more congestion charges,” said Johnson, according to Pistonheads. “What I am determined to make happen is a modal shift towards bicycling and walking, not just in inner London but also in outer London.” Coinciding with news that the congestion charge won’t be increased, Porsche has announced a formal victory in its legal campaign to prevent the increase. The Administrative Court in London has quashed the increase to the charge and awarded Porsche legal costs - expected to be a six figure sum. The sports carmaker plans to donate the payout to Skidz, a charity to help get youths off the streets.
London mayor Johnson fulfills campaign promise to stop c-charge hike

London mayor Johnson fulfills campaign promise to stop c-charge hike

Enlarge Photo

Boris Johnson, London’s mayor and the replacement to Ken Livingstone, has scrapped the plan to triple the city's controversial congestion charge on heavier-emissions vehicles.

Widespread public and corporate opposition and an estimated £123 million cost have posed strong arguments against the increased congestion charge, as has the result of the Mayoral election itself, which many considered a referendum on the charge.

The end to the planned rise will save small businesses and families hundreds or even thousands of pounds per year.

Plans had been put in place by Livingstone to see the daily c-charge upped to £25 ($45) in October, but Johnson's action upheld a campaign promise to keep the rise from going into place, reports Bloomberg.

"I am delighted that we have been able to scrap the £25 charge, which would have hit families and small businesses hardest," said Johnson. The rise would have applied to cars that emit more than 225g/km CO2.

The news of the repeal follows Johnson’s confirmation that he would not be expanding the measure into the capital city’s suburbs. Nevertheless, the Mayor is still committed to enhancing walking and bicycling throughout the city. “I am not going to be having any more congestion charges,” said Johnson, according to Pistonheads. “What I am determined to make happen is a modal shift towards bicycling and walking, not just in inner London but also in outer London.”

Coinciding with news that the congestion charge won’t be increased, Porsche has announced a formal victory in its legal campaign to prevent the increase. The Administrative Court in London has quashed the increase to the charge and awarded Porsche legal costs - expected to be a six figure sum. The sports carmaker plans to donate the payout to Skidz, a charity to help get youths off the streets.

Tags: Odds and ends

Posted in: News


Comments (13 total)

Meet the top commenters on the Leaderboard

  1. By HECTOR #1, Posted: 5/3/2008

    *The evil that men do lives after them...*

    Red Ken is gone but not forgotten. He'll not abandon his *progressively revolutionary* (pun intended) ideas so easily and we may soon see him running for higher office, perhaps even PM. If he screwed London, why not try it with the whole of the UK?

    But his ideas live after him. Michael *Left-Right-Left Again* Bloomberg is only the most visible example of many in local and State administrations who are proponents of Red Ken's philosophy that all of lives problems can be solved if the populace only abandoned themselves (their money first) to their betters in government.

    And a fee based system is not essential in any way to reduce congestion. A fee based system is only essential in taking your money away from you. I already pay enough fees (taxes) for the government to build and maintain roads. And there are already more than enough toll roads. We don't need more, thank you very much.

  2. By Miniloops #2, Posted: 5/3/2008

    Ah the typical troll, always carping, never providing a viable solution. You must have plenty of time to come up with this sort of thing while you're sat stationary in a city in which traffic is moving more slowly than it did when mankind was on horseback.

    If you cannot suggest a solution and demonstrate economic models of how your solution will work then don't stand on the sidelines moaning about how much it's costing you.

    It's ironic how you pun "Progressive revolutionary" and yet the opposite of that is quite clearly "static" or "stationary", exactly what the traffic in big cities is now. Stick with the same old status quo, which has got us into the mess we're in now.

  3. By Renton #3, Posted: 5/3/2008

    Miniloops -- WTF are you talking about? Hector is no troll, he merely believes we are all paying enough fees and taxes and I hardly think anyone wants to pay more.

    Your wanting him to produce "economic models" is a joke. This is a mere blog board.

    Cities are big and congested messes. If you don't like it leave. Sucking more money out of people is never the answer.

    There is nothing wrong with wanting less gov't regulation and taxation.

    You sound a bit "collectivist" IMO.

  4. By Gus #4, Posted: 5/3/2008

    Miniloops is more than welcome to write a personal check to his local government, secure in the knowledge that it will be put to good use...

    That said, it looks like the Brits finally ousted the red menace. :)

  5. By exess #5, Posted: 5/3/2008

    Although this "Boris Johnson" guy sounds suspicious.

  6. By MyWheelsOnWalls.com #6, Posted: 5/3/2008

    This is fantastic news! I wonder if Chelsea tractor sales are up too?

  7. By Alex #7, Posted: 5/4/2008

    good riddance!

  8. By Alan #8, Posted: 5/4/2008

    Finally they got rid of him, this is long overdue. Seriously though, congestion charge didn't work and it's really just another way to get more tax revenue. However, i do believe what they set out to do is much needed, namely reduce car use and reduce congestion.

  9. By Raptor #9, Posted: 5/4/2008

    >> congestion charge didn’t work and it’s really just another way to get more tax revenue.

    So it worked as planned! :D

  10. By Gus #10, Posted: 7/2/2008

    Maybe they are coming to their senses. Now ban the cameras and you've got your basic freedoms back.

  11. By HECTOR #11, Posted: 7/2/2008

    Amen to that brother...

  12. By bambam #12, Posted: 7/8/2008

    There only going one step back to go 3 step forward.
    C charges for EU cities, LOL. or is that the carbon trading scheme thing?

  13. By Gunnar #13, Posted: 7/8/2008

    Hector's right, Red Ken was a menace. Londoners should be grateful that the cycling Mayor Boris is on the side of the motorist.

    For the moment...

Post a Comment

Post anonymously
Sign In |
will stay private
your 'posted by' name will link to the URL

More from MotorAuthority

More from High Gear Media