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Boris Johnson told: give people a say now on western zone of C-charge
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent3 Jun 2008
Boris Johnson was under pressure from a Tory council today to hold a referendum on the western extension of the congestion charge zone.
Hammersmith & Fulham claimed the toll had been a "body blow" for businesses and had caused parking jams.
Deputy leader and cabinet member for the environment, Nicholas Botterill, said residents in the borough, which is on the periphery of the extended zone, would continue to suffer until Transport for London scrapped it.
The Mayor, who promised a referendum on the issue during his election campaign, has said he is working with TfL on a timetable "as a matter of urgency". It is widely expected the poll will take place in the next few months.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "The Mayor has always said he is committed to looking again at the western extension and we're actively working towards an early date."
Former mayor Ken Livingstone's original consultation on the extended zone, which covers Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill and Pimlico, showed that 62 per cent were opposed - a result likely to be repeated this time.
Hammersmith & Fulham claims those on the periphery of the zone are hardest hit because, unlike those inside it, they are not eligible for a discount on the £8-a-day charge.
Mr Botterill said: "The western extension has caused parking gridlock and outrage in west London.
"It has been a body blow for local business and this must be the end of the road for this failed project. We are calling on TfL to scrap the extension now - before more damage is done to local traders.
"We always questioned whether the extension was more about making money than reducing congestion.
"The people who are paying are on the periphery of the zone and they will continue to suffer until this invisible toll barrier is removed."
An investigation by the council showed that small businesses, such as estate agencies, dry cleaners and florists, are losing thousands of pounds a year to make trips of less than a mile.
Nadine Kline of Green Florist in Shepherd's Bush Road said: "The congestion charge extension really has affected our delivery service and in many cases it is actually cheaper for us to send our deliveries by taxi rather than pay the £8 charge ourselves."
Lana Kova, lettings manager at Shepherd's Bush estate agents Tauntons, said: "Our office is based outside the congestion charge zone and unfortunately we have had to give up some of our properties inside the zone in places such as Holland Park and Bayswater.
"We are a small independent estate agent and can't afford to pay the £8 congestion charge just to show properties to customers.
"It is such a shame because we have had to give up nice properties in areas that we would have liked to expand into."
'TRADE IS DOWN 50 PER CENT'
SHEPHERD'S BUSH market falls just outside the extended charging zone but traders say its impact has halved their business.
Khwaja Abdullah, owner of Angel Delight, a children's clothes shop in the market which is close to Goldhawk Road station, said shoppers were avoiding the area.
"Business is terrible, really, really bad," he said. "When the central London charge came in it was not too bad but when it was extended that was it for us. This is London's oldest street market and I don't know how we can keep going.
"I would say that trade is down 50 per cent since the extension began. That makes things very hard.
"Parking is another big problem - there are hardly any car-parking spaces and it costs £1.60 an hour. People don't want to come. We voted for Boris because we wanted a change - now we will have to see what he does."
Reader views (19)
"... small businesses, such as estate agencies, dry cleaners and florists, are losing thousands of pounds a year to make trips of less than a mile." - Do they really need a car to make these short journeys?? Go on foot, reduce fumes, congestion and obesity!
- Mary, London, 04/06/2008 16:53
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This is just a tax take. Ken Livingstone brought it in even though 62 percent were against this. I think Ken got his sums mixed up and thought that 62 percent was for it. Needs to go to Specsavers, and maybe some maths lessons as well.
Boris, get rid of this stupid extension and let Business thrive again in these areas.
- Norman Small, Edgware, 04/06/2008 12:26
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Most tax is unpopular so what poll will ever result in people saying 'yes' to any tax whether congestion, poll tax or income tax? I think Boris has to decide whether he thinks it's needed or not and live with the consequences. He's there to make decisions not just pander to public opinion.
- Richard, LONDON, 04/06/2008 12:07
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Not every driver is opposed to the congestion charge. I drive 2/3 times a month into the original zone and traffic is less congested. My journey times are more reliable too. £8 to a company really only costs about £6.40. TfL say crashes and injuries are down too.
- Peter, London SE16, 04/06/2008 12:01
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Seriously? If you can not afford £8.00 a day (the price of two grande latte's at any coffee chain), then maybe you should be looking at the way you do business. Granted the price of doing business tends to move upwards, but to complain about something that small in price is ridiculous.
- Trey M, London, UK, 04/06/2008 09:52
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A congestion tax is an idiotic idea to begin with. It defies common sense. All is does is hurt business and reduce tourism (as this article well illustrates).
Thank God that fool Mayor Bloomberg of NYC has not been able to start his congestion-pricing plan for NY. If he does, I will punish NYC by going there less frequently as a tourist.
Laughingly, he cites London as an example of congestion pricing working.
- Dominick Coppola, Edison, New Jersey, USA, 04/06/2008 07:16
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To Lana - Why not use public transport or invest in Toyota Prius?
- Ciara, London, UK, 03/06/2008 20:58
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Why do you need a referendum, this was Livingstone's folly, just switch off the cameras tonight. Easy and you save money.
- Malcolm, Chingford, 03/06/2008 20:57
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Never mind a referendum for the western extension, lets have one for the original zone and rip out the cameras when it gets a massive NO vote.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 03/06/2008 20:43
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Do people think K&C residents are going to vote to give up access to the central zone for the reduced rate?
Also, congestion in the zone is way down, before it was introduced Holland Park Avenue used to be jam packed every day, now it's not.
I think a referendum will result in a 'keep it' vote.
- Dave, London, 03/06/2008 17:39
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I really hope he delivers what he promised.
Has anyone noticed the KENgestion charge cameras that were recently installed by the petrol stations just after the hogarth roundabout as you come into town.
I think that Ken was going to extend the zone even further. What a nasty dishonest person he was.
Good riddance to bad rubbish!
- Jimbob, Kensington, 03/06/2008 15:54
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The western extension was always about money and Ken's bash the rich attitude. As a resident just in the charge area and near Shepherds Bush, while the I agree the Charge has not helped, much of the congestion problem is do with the never ending roadworks/ closed lanes and construction going on there.
- Jeremy E, London, 03/06/2008 15:41
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Boris doesn't need the cost of a referendum to tell him that very few people want the CC extension. Rip the cameras down now.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 03/06/2008 14:38
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Do we really feel sorry for Estate Agents, no I didn't think so. Have they not fuelled the property boom within the congestion charge making it so hard for people who live in it. Bit rich to complain now, Shepherds Bush should be easily accessible by tube and bus and as for parking well I think council's hate the C charge as it costs the revenue, they would much rather get the money themselves. It's all short term gain from everyone.
- Gary, London, UK, 03/06/2008 14:28
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The current Tif bid in Manchester is averaging 80% against the introduction of CONgestion charging even though the DoT figures show a drop in traffic annually over the last 10 years, but I expect government will ignore popular opinion and the actual facts just as the local councils are doing.
Watch this space... Congestion coming to a town near ME!
- Brian P, Manchester, 03/06/2008 14:13
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Why not move the congestion charge to Islington and other places closer to the centre of but just north of London.
Good Ken and Labour country!
- Retard, London, 03/06/2008 13:07
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This will be hard for the Mayor, as officials and others with an interest will be whispering in his ear giving him various reasons why the toll should remain. But whatever the difficulties, he should stick to his promise and let the people in the charge zone and in neighbouring areas vote on this.
The result of the poll is a foregone conclusion, and we hope that the Mayor will speedily implement what people want.
- National Alliance Against Tolls, National, 03/06/2008 13:01
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A poll will take place "in the next few months". That is just not acceptable. The Mayor needs to act now, not delay things for most likely another year.
- Carl, London, 03/06/2008 12:55
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This looks like Boris's first big challenge and will he be brave - giving up the revenue to deliver on one of his most significant campaign pledges? The second big challenge will be to kill plans for a £25 charge for larger vehicles.
- Matthew, London, 03/06/2008 12:52
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