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C-charge reward for small cars is stalled
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor19 Dec 2007
Plans to exempt small cars from the congestion charge look set to be dumped.
In what critics claim is a major U-turn, City Hall confirmed that Ken Livingstone was rethinking his proposal to excuse lowpolluting vehicles from the £8-a-day fee.
Mr Livingstone said last year he wanted to give free entry to all cars which emit less than 120g of carbon dioxide per kilometre.
His announcement led to a rush of people buying smaller cars. But Green groups warned that the move would undermine the whole purpose of the scheme by leading to a sharp rise in traffic.
Mr Livingstone is said to be concerned that the growing popularity of small cars in road tax bands A and B would mean thousands of extra people driving into the zone.
Car firms seized on the proposals when they were put forward in August, with Citroen declaring that no fewer than 23 of its models would be free of any charge.
The Mayor still plans to penalise gas-guzzling 4x4s by imposing a £25 charge for band G cars which emit more than 225g/km.
Recent polls showed two thirds of Londoners support the higher charge for the most polluting cars.
But with the mayoral election in May, some observers believe that Mr Livingstone will not want to risk upsetting key voters. The 4x4 plan may even be put back until 2010 after technical difficulties.
Average traffic speed in the morning peak in Central London fell to 9.3 mph last year, lower than it was before the charge was introduced in 2003.
A spokesman for the Mayor confirmed he had yet to give the go ahead for the small car exemption.
He said Mr Livingstone will announce the next steps early in the New Year after consultation data has been analysed by Transport for London.
But Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson seized on the Mayor's change of tack. He told the Standard: "This was always a mad idea. I'm glad to hear this dictatorial Mayor may be about to perform a U-turn on this issue.
"The congestion charge is not working, which is why he plans to turn it into an environment tax.
"Mixed messages on this left Londoners angry and confused."
Some estimates suggest that exempting smaller cars would lead to a rise of 25,000 more vehicles a day entering the C-charge zone.
The Green Party have already released figures showing sales of smaller cars that will qualify for the 100 per cent discount have jumped by nearly a third in the first nine months of this year.
At present, the only total exemption from the charge is for electric, biofuel and hybrid cars.
Q&A
What is the Mayor proposing?
He announced in November last year that he wanted to introduce a £25 a day C-charge for Chelsea tractors and other high-polluting band G vehicles. There would be no discount for zone residents. Vehicles in bands C, D, E and F would continue to pay the £8 but small, low-polluting cars in the A and B brackets would be exempt.
How do I know which band my car is in?
Band G is for vehicles emitting more than 225g of carbon dioxide per km, which includes many 4x4s but also large cars and some prestige sports cars. Band A is for cars with a rating under 100g/km and Band B between 101g/km and 120g/km. All new cars since 2001 are given a rating, meaning heavy polluters from before 2001 would not have been covered by the £25 charge.
When was this meant to take place?
Mr Livingstone said the new charging regime would start next year but the timetable slipped to 2009 and now "technical problems" could put it back years.
What has emerged today?
The Mayor's office is now considering scrapping the exemption for low emission vehicles in bands A and B. Category B vehicles include the Honda Civic IMA, the Citroën C1 and the Toyota Prius.
Why is he considering this?
He fears the popularity of low emission cars would mean thousands extra entering the congestion zone every day.
Is there another reason?
Money. By exempting low-polluting vehicles, Mr Livingstone would miss out on vital source of revenue.
Reader views (9)
The whole thing is a joke, I feel sorry for those that forked out for a car in tax band A and B especially for the emission zone (I was almost one of them)...
- Anon, London, 02/01/2008 17:07
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If the charge is now to save the environment, why is it not extended East or South? After all, emissions from a car on the Commercial Road are not very much different as those from a car on the Kings Road. It's quite obvious why he does not extend it. Central London and West London are full of (in his mind) Tory voters, whereas East and South London are full of members of ethnic minorities, Ken's natural voter base. I'm afraid the environment gets the bums rush when it comes to Ken hanging on to power.
- Chris Denning, London, 19/12/2007 22:40
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Trying to price entry into the zone on the basis of the effect an individual car has on the planet's temperature is simply too clever by half and will not reduce congestion. As a socialist Ken Livingstone optimistically believes that he can improve the world by intervention. Trouble is that taxation is not very good at being clever- you only have to look at the tax credit mess to see that. Unpredictable things happen when an activity is encouraged or discouraged through taxation. The tax credit mess, the explosion in cigarette smuggling etc. In this case, the unpredictable was that Ken's idea coincided disastrously with breakthroughs in diesel technology which have seen Band B cars become very common. A flat rate charge on all cars should instead be introduced on the simple basis that cars take up space, period. Punishment for emissions should be left to the Chancellor through the well-established mechanisms of the tax disc and fuel duty.
- Julian Howard, London, UK, 19/12/2007 20:54
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Wouldn't encouraging smaller car ownership be better for the environment all round. I bet over 99% of journeys by these cars are not solely inside the zone. Seems to me that the 'greens' have once again scored one against the environment in their 'anti-car' agenda maybe they should all jet off to somewhere sunny to have a rethink.
- Tony, London, 19/12/2007 20:10
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Question: When will "Ken" drop the concessions for electric cars?
Answer: After the election.
But then, if he does not get elected, he would not be able to do so, now would he?
- Robert Zimmerman, London, 19/12/2007 20:06
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Ken's pathetic attempts to convert the Congestion Charge into an environmental tax are unwinding. In the same way he delayed the increase in the original charge until after he was re-elected, he is now postponing key, unpopular decisions until after the next election. Hopefully the electorate will see through this. And who are these "two thirds of Londoners" who want higher charges? I don't know any. But then again, I don't have left-wing, muesli-munching Guardianistas in my social circle.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 19/12/2007 14:48
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So its gone from a congestion charge to a pollution charge and back to a congestion charge again - I seem to recall suggesting this would happen only last week! Basically, Ken is just out to shaft drivers for as much as he can get away with so he can continue to syphon money into dodgy consultancies run by his mates.
- Paul, London, 19/12/2007 14:48
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The sensible thing was keep the charge at £8 for small vehicles and increase incrementally after that up to £25 for the tanks - why are these people who lead us, mainly men - so illogical? Common sense guys - it's not that difficult... Boris stop sniding when Ken makes efforts on the Environment - keep it for stupid projects like the mega Olympics! All other charities are missing out now because of some people's megalomania and others' mismanagement. And the already hard pressed taxpayers will have to contribute however much it is claimed they will not.
- Esther Phillips, Leatherhead, 19/12/2007 13:17
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I knew it! Having just bought a mini-cooper diesel, one of the purchase considerations was the congestion charge exemption promised in Feb'08.
Why did I seriously think the great leader would not renege, plus change.
- Martyn Challice, London, 19/12/2007 12:49
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