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Mayor denies 'secret plan' to extend C-charge
David Williams, Motoring Editor11.03.08
Ken Livingstone has denied he was planning to extend the congestion charge to other parts of London.
Reports said the mayor had "secret" plans to extend the scheme if he is reelected in May.
A source close to Mr Livingstone claimed the plan was hushed-up - and deliberately excluded from his transport manifesto unveiled yesterday - under strict instructions to avoid losing votes in the forthcoming election. The manifesto contains no new commitments to congestion charging but confirms a £25-a-day toll on bigger engined cars will come into force in October.
But today a spokesman from the mayor's office said the rumours were "absolutely not true". He said he knew of no feasibility studies into extending the congestion charge. Today former government - and TfL - advisor, Professor David Begg, said such a scheme would be politically risky.
But by extending the charge to the M25 the scheme could raise £2 billion a year and cost £1 billion a year to run.
That would provide more than enough revenue to totally overhaul London's transport system.
He added: "I think it would be right for London. It would bring important reductions in pollution and congestion. It would raise substantial amounts of revenue. It could be used to reduce council tax and that could be very attractive to the boroughs."
Car manufacturer Porsche today said it would take legal action over City Hall plans for a £25 "gas-guzzler" congestion charge. Mr Livingstone said he was "prepared to fight Porsche in the courts".
Reader views (19)
I think we can safely say that the plan IS to extend to the M25 or at least the London Boundary.
When you look at the new camera gangl=planks that are going into place in and around London, it's obvious that something is afoot!
There's obviously plans for some kind of average speed limit camera system along the A13 coming into town from Dagenham and numerous other roads around town, and this would tie nicely in with setting up a whole of London congestion charge.
As long as Londoners get the present resident discount (£2.50 per week) I don't think there would be much complaint from Londoners.
I know Boris Johnson has already said he would look at a whole of London scheme, at least he's being honest!
- Sharon Watson, London
As a tax paying - and council tax paying - resident of London - though living in Crystal Palace - I have had to pay the congestion charge every time I drive into central London.
Making the whole of London a Congestion Zone would mean that ALL London residents would benefit from the 'reduction' currently enjoyed by the 'wealthy few' residents of Kensington and Chelsea, and Central London.
Methinks however, that we 'swamp dwellers' will not enjoy the same benefits - how would Mr Livingstone garnish the huge amounts of money currently supplied by 'other Londoners'?
Perhaps Mr Livingstone should note that 'ALL' Londoners will be entitled to vote in the upcoming Mayoral Election - and should start treating all of us the same.
Parents are not allowed to have a 'favourite child', teachers are not permitted favouritism towards 'gifted pupils', Mayors should not be able to seduce 'favoured voters'.
Time will tell if Mr Livingstone is capable of facilitating true democracy and unqualified representation of all of London residents. Should he succeed/fail is dependent on just how many of us are prepared to vote! We have been warned.
- Padraigh Turlough, Crystal Palace, London
Not sure how Ken would extend it to the M25 when most of the M25 is actually outside of London.
- Tom, Watford UK
But will any one believe him and his mates at TfL, he hardly has a record for honesty, truth and straight talking.
- Ian Makin, Twickenham, UK
Would the 2 billion pounds be used to get rid of red Ken? Now that would be a great waste reduction scheme if ever I saw one.
- Peter Kavanagh, Tooting, UK
I beg to differ! The scheme is only politically risky while Comrade Ken is trying to get elected; he doesn't give a fig for anyone's opinion once he is seated at his throne.
How much good has the revenue from the congestion charging done for London? The pot-holes that litter our roads are decorative then are they?
£1 billion is enough to totally overhaul London's transport system? How is it then that they are already spending far in excess of this already? £4 billion to make London Underground accessible for a start! If it was that easy, why hasn't it already been done?
Why do these people insist on insulting our intelligence?
- Derek Arnold, Bromley, Kent
Comrade Ken is a liar - I read about extending the congestion zones out as far as Bromley many months ago. And isn't it strange that disabled people get a 100% "discount" rather than exemption as should be the case?
- Derek Arnold, Bromley, Kent
51 days till ken signs on at job centre.
- Malcolm, Chingford, UK
"rumours were "absolutely not true"-
It must be a done deal then.
- Sarah, London, UK
Of course he will deny it. Just like he didn't mention increasing the charge to £8 or extending the zone during the last election. Mark my words, North and East London, your time under the CC yoke is coming if he gets in again!
- Nobby Clark, Perth, UK
Ken has reneged far too many times before to be believed.
Remember the Routemasters and limit of charges - plus extending it and now pollution and LEZ charges?
Nothing Ken says has any motivation other than to increase his power base and make him a dictator.
He cannot stand criticism, perceived, or, as is often the case, proven.
He only panders to those he gifts with Londoners taxable incomes and nefarious charges.
- Peter Russell, Mottingham, London
"Ken Livingstone has denied he was planning to extend the congestion charge to other parts of London." Of this I have no doubt; he'll be saving any such unpopular proposals until after the Mayoral elections!
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, UK
No Ken's not got any plans to extend it further. Just like he had no plans to get rid of Routemasters. And just like he had no plans to raise it from £5 to £8.
- Andrew, London, UK
Ken lied the first time about the congestion charge when he claimed he would only consider introducing it once public transport had shown significant improvement. He lied again when he said there would be no need to increase the cost from £5 a day. He lied for a third time when he said if residents voted against the westward expansion then it wouldn't be introduced.
I have no doubt that the monitoring system introduced for the Low Emission Zone was just a ruse to extend the CC to cover the whole of London.
Londoners must learn that Livingstone cannot be trusted in what he says or with the future of London.
Vote him out.
- Marc, Harrow, UK
Mr Livingstone would deny it, wouldn't he. And since when has he taken any notice of feasibility studies unless they suited his purpose?
- Robin, London, UK
What Mr. Livingstone fails to understand is the amount of misery it will cause to motorists who have no alternative but to drive into London due to overcrowded, overpriced and frequently delayed or cancelled public transport.
The money raised would allegedly be used to overhaul London's transport system.
Therefore we can all pay again to drive on the roads we have already paid for so that we can pay some more to use overpriced and thoroughly unpleasant public transport.
I hope Porsche (and the various embassies) rip him to pieces in court and wipe that smug motorist hating grin off of his face once and for all.
- Jimbob, Kensington, UK
The mayor has his own agenda about most things and has openly declared he rules London how he feels fit and does not care how and what the electorate think. All we hear from him "I want to tax gas guzzlers as they are causing global warming".How come he of very little formal education knows so much about such a complex scientific subject on which the genii of the world cannot agree. This proves that he is raising money because he has an agenda for the promotion of Ken and nothing else. He cannot be that naive to think that we know why he won't spread the congestion charge east and northward. They are Labour Voters.
- Alexis Dogilewski, London, England
You can bet the farm on Ken extending and increasing congestion charging as far as his greedy mits will stretch. It amazes me he is allowed to rule London as though it's his personal kingdom.
- Paul, London, UK
Ironically, this could be a vote-winner as far as motorists are concerned. A London-wide congestion zone would deter non-Londoners from driving into or through the capital, and make it easier and cheaper for residents to use their car.
- Austen, London, UK
