Comment: C-charge change - Mayor - News - Evening Standard
       

Comment: C-charge change

One of the Mayor's election pledges was to consult the public on whether to keep the western zone of the congestion charge. He says he is working with Transport for London to establish the timetable for a consultation as a "matter of urgency". Already, Hammersmith and Fulham council has declared that extension has been a "body blow" for local business. Small shops deserve help at a time when increased competition looms from the giant Shepherds Bush mall.

The difficulty is however that those living in the western zone, a largely residential area, have become used to their resident's discount and would suffer if traffic levels rose following abolition of the extension. Also, more motorists in the western zone would affect the many cyclists passing through it en route to central London. The answer could be concessions on charging hours so that commuters by road were still discouraged but it became easier to visit shops inside the zone.

But in the meantime Mr Johnson must keep his promise for a much more rigorous consultation than that undertaken by Ken Livingstone. Businesses and residents must have their say.

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