Afternoon:
14°c
Now London borough thinks of starting its own congestion charge
David Williams, Motoring Editor10.10.08
Motorists in London could face another congestion charge zone.
Tower Hamlets is considering setting up its own scheme to cope with "huge transport challenges" in the east London borough.
The proposal would be a first for an area outside the centre of London and Kensington and Chelsea.
Officials say traffic levels in Tower Hamlets are rising because of vehicles entering from the City and Blackwall Tunnel.
Although car ownership in the borough is low, about three out of 10 residents still travel to work by road, including by bus, motorcycle and taxi. Employees use cars for almost two in 10 journeys to work, council figures show, and only three per cent of people travel to work by bicycle, while 16 per cent walk.
As part of its 25-year transport strategy the borough would also:
● Promote greener transport.
● Boost membership of car clubs.
● Build more cycle parking at hospitals, community centres and shops.
● Create car-free days on which people would be encouraged to travel by other means.
Mark Francis, lead member for transport, said: "Tower Hamlets faces huge challenges. Our roads are heavily congested and we also have some of the main arterial routes in and out of the City.
"A high volume of vehicles also equates to poor air quality and social exclusion. Busy roads make people feel cut off from the other side of the street and people can feel it is sometimes easier to stay indoors." He said the council was outlining measures it could take in conjunction with the Government and residents.
The proposed measures are in the Final Local Implementation Plan which has been presented to the council for approval.
All local authorities have to submit a Local Implementation Plan to the Mayor to outline how they intend to implement his overall transport strategy for the capital. The Tower Hamlets final local plan shows the area is served by 16 A-roads, four of which bisect the borough.
It has one of the highest proportions of residents using public transport of any London borough, and travel to school is "primarily" by foot or public transport.
But there are increasing numbers of cars on the borough's roads.
A Tower Hamlets spokeswoman said: "Congestion charging is one of the initiatives the council will look into in the future.
"There will be research into it it may not happen for years. It is a 25-year plan. We get a lot of traffic in from the City and Blackwall Tunnel and local people need to be able to get around too."
However the AA said the proposal raised "serious questions". "What happens if it goes ahead and then the next borough does the same thing?" said the AA's Andrew Howard.
Reader views (4)
Should tower Hamlets even consider this I know that our business with it's 22 employees would leave Tower Hamlets - I am sure this is now what Tower Hamlets have in mind -
A huge amount of congestion in Tower Hamlets is created by lack of thoughtful planning and vision when allowing utilities and developers rights to road works -
On the Isle of Dogs/Canary wharf we currently have 19 areas of road that are blocked with temporary traffic lights and contra flows -
There is nothing more frustrating than seeing utility roadworks which are left day after day with no workers in attendance.
There is no place for another TAX
- Richard Smith, Isle of Dogs London
If they only charged for people wanting to leave Tower Hamlets they'd make a fortune - they've got to be realistic...no-one is actually going to pay to get in!
- Carl, London
If individual boroughs are allowed to set up their own charging areas, driving in London will be practically impossible. The only people left in cars will be government ministers, Olympic officials and immigrants claiming housing benefit. What is the road tax disc for if it does not confer the right to drive on roads which have been paid for many times over?
- The Gene Genie, Croydon
I predicted a year ago that the CC would head east, but not while Gruppenfuehrer Ken was in charge. Looks like it is finally happening.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
