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Mayor is plotting road tolls across capital, say Tories
Last updated at 12:19pm on 06.02.07
Ken Livingstone was accused today of plotting a major extension of road charges across London.
The Conservatives believe a new Bill will give the Mayor the power to impose tolls on any road in the capital.
Mr Livingstone denies the claim and has accused the Tories of misunderstanding the way the legislation is worded.
The row comes a day after the Evening Standard revealed Transport for London is looking at introducing a third congestion-charge around Greenwich and the Blackwall Tunnel.
According to the Conservatives, the Supplemental Toll Provisions Bill gives TfL the power to make toll orders. It also gives it the right to install charging equipment and to require cars to carry toll-reading machines.
The legislation, which has its second reading in the Lords this week, is being introduced privatelyby TfL so it can charge for crossing the new Thames Gateway Bridge. But the Tories claim it is a "Trojan horse" which will give TfL the ability to introduce "tag and beacon" technology on any road in Greater London.
They are citing guidance from civil servants on the London Assembly which says the draft Bill "will provide further powers to TfL to make toll orders across all of London similar to those TfL already administer with congestion charging".
The guidance continues: "The Bill outlines that all roads would be eligible for tolling, not just newly constructed roads such as the Thames Gateway Bridge."
Lord Hanningfield, the Conservative transport spokesman, said the measure was being slipped through Parliament as quietly as the Mayor could manage. But a TfL spokesman said: "It gives us additional powers to collect and enforce tolls. It does not give us any powers to set tolls."
• A row has erupted between the Treasury and the Department for Transport over national road charging. Transport ministers believe the scheme will only be palatable to motorists if the money goes directly to improving the transport system. But the Treasury believes ring-fencing taxes for a particular cause would create a dangerous precedent.
Reader views (5)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Good! London is in grid lock every day, from central London right out to the suburbs. Our children breathe in the fumes we create and the environment is being destroyed. Something needs to be done. What alternative do the Tories offer?
- Steve, London, UK
Oh well, you Londoners voted for him, so you deserve what you got!
If you don't like him and his policies, just vote him out. If you couldn't see that the introduction of the central charging zone was just a ploy to introduce a charging scheme right out to the M25, then you don't understand polititians.
- Stephen, Guildford
If the camera mounts in the K&C extension area have been installed without planning permission then evidence of evasion of the charges cannot be used to persecute motorists.
- Marc, Hatfield, UK
We just hope that Mr. Livingstone and his bright and competent team at Tfl are ready for the mayhem which will happen on 19th February if they do not change all the traffic lights in and around the approach of extended C-charge zone. You have been warned!
- Mrs. L Grey, London
Better get that old Mayor out then!
- Jay, London
