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Revolt over Mayor’s delay in scrapping C-charge
Katharine Barney and Ross Lydall24 Sep 2009
Boris Johnson was today facing a growing rebellion from members of his own party after he admitted scrapping the western extension of the congestion charge could be delayed for up to a year.
Tories across London called for the Mayor to “get his hands on the tiller of Transport for London”.
Both Tory Assembly members and leaders of Tory-run boroughs said the delay would cause unnecessary suffering for businesses and residents.
Mr Johnson made the admission yesterday on his Twitter site after his transport director, Kulveer Ranger, said TfL was operating in “tough economic times” caused by the collapse of Metronet and a fall in those using the Tube.
The extension brings in between £55 million and £70 million but last November Mr Johnson announced it would be scrapped after listening to public opinion.
At the time he said it would go “by 2010 and hopefully before” but he can now only guarantee it will be removed by the end of next year.
Tory Assembly member and Kensington and Chelsea councillor Victoria Borwick said: “This is really very tedious. For heaven's sake, why does it take so long to turn off some cameras?
“He needs to get his hands on the tiller of TfL just like he has with the Met.
“Boris campaigned on this as an election pledge. How long can it take?”
The Mayor sought to reassure supporters in an email sent to 5,000 activists across London yesterday.
Referring to the zone as an “ex-zone” in reference to the Monty Python dead parrot scene, he wrote: “To make it absolutely crystal clear, we will be removing the Western Extension next year.
“We have to jump through a number of tedious bureaucratic hoops before the axe can fall, but fall it will. The extended zone will be no more. It will be an ex-zone, the area formerly known as. It will be a dead zone!”
Justine Greening, the Tory MP for Putney and shadow communities spokeswoman, said: “Everybody, including the Mayor, wants to see the zone — which the previous Mayor brought in in spite of huge public opposition — reversed as soon as possible.”
Richard Tracey, Tory spokesman for transport on the London Assembly said his constituents in Battersea were “incessantly” campaigning for the abolition of the zone. He said: “I don't think TfL have been as efficient as they could have been. I get the feeling they've been dragging their feet.”
Tory assembly member Andrew Boff said: “I'm content that the western extension is going. He [Boris] would certainly see protests from our group if we felt it wasn't. I'm less than happy it's going to take so long, but that isn't really down to Boris. That is down to the legalistic hurdles he has got to jump.”
One senior London Tory said the delay in scrapping the extension was a shambles.
“It's a complete Boris,” the source said.
Local councils insisted that any delay at all could damage businesses.
Nicholas Botterill, deputy leader of Hammersmith and Fulham council, said: “Any delay in scrapping it will contribute to more local traders going out of business.
“During these tough economic times it is essential that the Mayor of London pushes on and consigns this tax on commerce to the dustbin of history as soon as possible.”
Westminster council had already called for emergency powers to be invoked which would have allowed Mr Johnson to scrap the zone immediately.
View from portobello road: Boris has betrayed us, say traders struggling for survival
Chloe Alberry, door handle shop
“I voted for Boris because of the congestion charge, so this sudden turnaround is a shock. I think recession is an absolutely diabolical reason because the charge does anything but encourage business.
“In Kensington and Chelsea you can park quite easily now because nobody comes down here during the week. When the congestion charge came in my business went down by 20 per cent. I had to set up a website specifically to combat the congestion charge so customers could buy online. I thought Boris was an old-fashioned gentleman, he talked as if he understood the area and knew what he was saying.
“I have a van that has to be in the congestion zone. He is saying this is to help recession, but it's the small people that get hurt. It's individual people like myself. I won't vote for him again on principle if he won't make the compromise.
“My mother doesn't come to see me in the week any more because of the congestion charge. It's not just a tax on business, it's a tax on community.”
Peter Cain, fruit and vegetable stall
“Like most politicians they promise something and go back on their word. Boris Johnson came and spoke to me here and told me he was going to remove the western extension.
“The extension has killed my business — I'm 50 per cent down. If someone wants to buy fruit they don't want to pay an extra £8.
“I stopped bringing my truck in here otherwise it costs me £340 a month just for the privilege of coming to this road.
“Would Boris Johnson like a 40 per cent cut in his salary? Because that's what Ken Livingstone's done to us.”
Katrina Phillips, Intuitive Interior Decoration
“It's ruined everybody's business. Customers don't want to park here and delivery guys don't want to come down here. We are all getting to the point of giving up.
“We've already lost our out-of-town customers because of the charge — it stops people coming from Kent and Essex and filling their car with things they are not going to take on the train.
“They [City Hall] don't care, it's about making money. I don't know how anyone believed they would get rid of the charge. My family shop has been here since 1963, this will completely finish off this market.”
Cheryl Devlin, fruit and vegetable stall
“When Boris Johnson said they were going to get rid of the congestion charge I went up to City Hall and said thank you very much. We're not making any money as it is. No one can park and people from Fulham and Brent don't come here any more.
“I was so excited about them removing the charge because they would have been bringing back Notting Hill market. People won't pay £8, and even if they did remove it, old customers have probably found somewhere else to shop.
“I'm the fourth generation of this business and I think I'll be the last.”
Reader views (35)
Frankly we are getting used to this. Mayor Johnson is becoming known for breaking election promises. First of all it was over the playing fields at Holland Park, which he promised to preserve and then changed his mind because Ian Clement, who was then in favour, wanted to please the Leader of Kensington and Chelsea. Now it is the Congestion Charge. This is what you get if you vote Tory. I read in the papers that Cameron will break his promise on Inheriance Tax if the Tories win the General Election and no doubt a lot more promises too. You have been warned and make sure that this is one term Boris.
- Richard, London, 27/09/2009 21:24
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Disappointed is a fraction of what I feel. Furious. And extremely suspicious. As I wrote in my recent letter to Kulveer Ranger, why was I telephoned by TfL (Transport for Livingstone) who were doing a survey during August, and asked about a specific journey by car in London? When there was hardly any traffic on the road due to school holidays? We have had several exceedingly expensive "consultations" and even though Livingstone tried to fix them, we still voted against. His replacement was elected on the expectation of an honest broker in the post. Prove it, Boris.
- Natalie Cutler, London, 25/09/2009 15:01
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Scotty- not a shill mate- just a bloke who is awestruck over the utter fool that was voted-in on the back of empty promises and ill-advised policies. I'm also gutted that this great city and the honest people who live and work here are little more than an idiot's career stepping-stone.
He was funny on Have I got News For You!
He ain't funny now.
- Fresh, london, 25/09/2009 12:36
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Since the western Extension has been in force it has so far cost us £52,000.00, add that to the parking of £1,000.00 per week amounts to the grand total of £208,000.00 just for the privalage for 12 men to work in london for the last 3 years, we desperately need new vehicles, but any profit we have earnt in the last 3 years has just been wasted on this nose tax, I wrote to Tony Blair back in 2006 explaining that our hopes for the future, were to to be able to provide apprenticeships for the trades we cover, which the Government is still promoting alongside Sir Alan Sugar, it seems that none of them are in touch with the real world.
- Karen Spooner, Kensington & Chelsea Property Maintenance, 25/09/2009 12:11
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Boris Johnson is not a good omen for Transport For London and the Metropolitan Police Authority.
He makes unelightened statements to satisfy his own pompous ego.
People voted for him without being aware of his previous credentials.is there someone pulling the puppets strings for an ulterior motive.
It beggars the question why we need a Mayor For London.
Why is he allowed to be a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority to wield poloitical influence.
Plus the fact he has a retinue of staff at City Hall.
The man must be forced to resign before he does more damage.
There is devil in the detail.
- Barry Deane, Richmond, United Kingdom, 25/09/2009 11:21
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I care so much about Portobello market as a local - we have to do what we can to try and support it and this is a real blow if there is a threat to business.
- Jo, London, 25/09/2009 09:43
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This U-turn is a disgrace. I voted Tory for the first time ever only on Boris Johnsons pledge to abolish the unfAir, divisive extension to the zone. It is deceit. I will never vote Tory again. He may have done me a favour just in time before the general election not to make the same mistake again.
- Nathalie Bristow, Shepherds Bush, 24/09/2009 23:02
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All you idiots who voted for Johnson are getting what you deserved and that is the contempt he holds for the lot of you. Johnson's isnt really interested in London, any fool could tell you that. He has bigger fish to fry and that is getting Cameron's job.
- James, Manchester England, 24/09/2009 21:55
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Scotty, London - The result of the last Mayoral election was :-
Boris Johnson 1.168,738,
Ken Livingstone - 1,028,966
Majority 139,772
It was in fact the HIGHEST vote KEN has ever got and shows close the result actually was.
Anyway this has nothing to do with Ken Boris won the election on a promise to hold a consultation on the WEZ and nearlt 2 years later has still to start drafting the papers and remember he is the chair of TFL.
I suppose when Cameron makes unemployment rise above 5 million it will be Browns fault!!!
As for Go Ahead using RED ARROWS on route 12 if I was in charge I would let them wander onto routes 507/521 in the same way that single/double deckers sometimes wander onto each others routes. Immagine the relief of home going commuters on a dark, cold and wet night waiting for a 521 if an artic able to take them ALL on board turns up instead of a BOJO Zippie flying past leaving them stranded on High Holborn.
Kate, London - The Mayoral elections were the Consultation as Ken explained the local consultation stage is about hours of operation, boundaries etc.
Fact is Boris did not say he would abolish the WEZ before the election something some other candidates did!
As Ken said when the Mayor was set up his revenue raising powers is mainly limited to the Mayoral precept so Ken introduced the C-Charge and LEZ to supplement his income.
Boris could raise the WEZ revenue by increasing his precept but GENERAL ELECTION approaches!!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 24/09/2009 19:49
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what little credability bojo had has gone.
like all politicos they are duplicitous and false faced
and only the seriously naieve would ever believe any utterance from such.
keep in mind he is tory and as the general election approaches his fellow blue types will similarly offer
jam tomorrow and a walk down the yellow brick road to gain power. six months in the fruit will sour and unexpected road works will occur and be blamed for the inability to carry through any previously promised inducements.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 24/09/2009 18:05
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"Ken was honourable and kept his word"
I wonder if 'fresh' kept a straight face when they typed that? either that or just another transparent shill.
anyway, I'm pretty sure the article says the WEZ is going to be scrapped next year - its rather clear how few people have actually read the article.
- Scotty, london, 24/09/2009 17:35
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"come on Boris I voted for you because, unlike Red Ken, I thought you were honourable and would keep your promises."
Now THAT'S the difference. Ken was honourable and kept his word, and it cost him his job. Like him or loathe him, as a conviction politician he stuck to what he said he'd do because he believed it to be right for London. (Once again- even if he was wrong in other people's eyes)
Boris, on the other hand, is an opportunist who's most important and vote-catching pledges are being cast aside like unwanted lovers (are we allowed to mention those?)
He'll blame TFL, blame Ken, blame the economy, the weather, the Government, anyone rather than admit he said what a very small majority of the voters wanted to hear.
He really is making a mess of things now, and we are paying for our stupid folly.
- Fresh, London, 24/09/2009 15:17
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Good, the more motorists who are discouraged from driving in London the better.
- Dc, London, 24/09/2009 15:02
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I think its quite funny super Boris was going to do this and that and lo and behold he is no diffrent to any other politician he wants your vote!!! and will say and do anything to get it.
As for KEN you may not like him but you knew where you were, he did what it said on the tin.
- Kim Brookes, London, 24/09/2009 15:01
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I can not believe this lying thief who got the electoral edge because of this promise without which he NEVER would have been elected. This man, in whom I placed so much hope, is jsut an excuse of a politician. He needs to resign immediately . I now despise him even more than livingstone, Hes a simple lyer and I will NEVER EVER vote for him OR THE TORY party EVER again. I hope Cameron can see the damage he is inflicting the tory party with this issue and that he will whip him strongly back in line,
- Jay Grand, London Golborne Road w10, 24/09/2009 15:00
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Boris has betrayed those of us who voted for him, primarily on the basis of this campaign promise. Whilst I was certainly no fan of Livingstone, increasingly I feel that at least what you saw was what you got with him. Boris seems now to be little more than a "meeja personality", and an increasingly tiresome one at that.
- Richard, London UK, 24/09/2009 14:44
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An electoral promise is a promise. Do not do an Attorney General, Gordoon Broon, on us Boris.
The people who voted you in, will never forget!
No matter what job you move on to.
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19, 24/09/2009 14:42
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funny how there is an inverse relationship between people who used the word "fact" and their own understanding of its meaning.
exhibit A - Melvyn Windebank
"Fact is unlike Ken who won a mandate from the electorate for both stages from the electorate of London Boris on promised a consultation which has still not delivered and to remove the extension he should seek a mandate at 2012 election."
I am not sure what mandate you think Ken got with his puny voter turnout tallies, that Boris didn't get. Boris received more votes this time round than Ken did combined in his 2 mayoral wins - and a central platform was a consultation on the west congestion zone.
it should come as no surprise that the consultation was against it, as they were AGAINST it when Ken consulted them. he put in place the plans, agreed to consult after having made the decision to go ahead, and then disregarded the negative consultative results.
and besides, isn't Boris saying this will go before the end of 2010? not exactly the climbdown presented yesterday in the press.
- Scotty, london, 24/09/2009 14:04
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Boris is being silly not getting rid of the charge but he's a right laugh so I'll vote for him again.
- Dave, Clapham, 24/09/2009 13:58
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we should never have voted out ken gas guzzling 4x4s would have been paying 25 pounds a day now. the c charge should be extended more boris cant scrap the extension because london risks a 300 million pound fine for exeeding pollution levels. bring on the trams its been a massive winner in croydon. never use me car now to get there park at nearest tram stop then on the tram.
- C May, biggin hill, 24/09/2009 13:51
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The Tories have always insisted that electing Boris would show everybody what a Cameron Government would be like. Well we have all been warned and I'm sure that Cameron will go back on his promises when he is PM. Too many of them are obviously contradictory even at this time.
- S Jones, Kennington England, 24/09/2009 13:49
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"Fact is unlike Ken who won a mandate from the electorate for both stages from the electorate of London ..."
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
...In fact, Livingstone ignored the "consultation" which was well over 60% against the WE, declaring to a journalist these sentiments "I don't care about the support, I am going ahead with this because [I say] it's good for London".
Livingstone then implemented the WE scheme in such a way as to make it as difficult and costly as possible to get rid of it.
- Kate, London, 24/09/2009 13:30
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It's no wonder that we have no faith whatsoever in our elected politicians and councillors! They are elected on the promises they make in their election manifestos and then abandon them the moment they are elected into office. It's no wonder that turnout for elections are diminishing all the time. We no longer believe in these power hungry, egotistical, third rate, morally deficient individuals that deceive and bend the truth at every opportunity. If a person is elected to office on the basis of the promises made during their election campaign, they should be made to keep to those promises or be removed. Otherwise, there's no accountability and we, the electorate, will continue to suffer the same lies and disappointments.
- Rory, London, 24/09/2009 13:19
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This is an absolute betrayal of the people who elected Boris in the belief that he intented to bring honesty into politics. His election pledge was unconditional, my vote is not. Stand by your promise and I will vote for you to be re-elected. If you prove to be a liar like most of the other politicians I will not vote for you again. Nor I suspect will the other voters who put their trust in you.
- Alan, London, 24/09/2009 13:00
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Having spent some time in the hot seat, he now knows how much revenue it is bringing in for him and his plans. Of course he is hanging onto it as long as possible.
- David, N10, 24/09/2009 12:59
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come on Boris I voted for you because, unlike Red Ken, I thought you were honourable and would keep your promises.
Please don't let me down.
- Mark Myword, London, 24/09/2009 12:13
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What is Boris thinking? He was elected to get rid of this tax! He is destroying his own credibility and that of the Conservative Party if he doesn't get on with this manifesto commitment. There also seems to be a complete information blackout on the whole issue of changes to the charging basis. Which cars will be exempt next year? Will there be an account based charge so you are charged automatically when your car is seen by the cameras-that's what I was told by TFL on the phone but nothing on their site in writing. Time to get on with it Boris!
- Fred, London, 24/09/2009 12:07
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I could turn the whole lot off in one night if I had a shot gun! what a complete crock about having to jump through legal hoops to turn it off! didn't take red ken five minutes to set it up.
legal hoops for who exactly, I mean who is going to complain if its turned off with out the right rubber stamp!
Boris we voted for you, now do what you promised
- Mike, london, 24/09/2009 11:49
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Its what happens when you vote for a Mayor who only knows about publicity stunts which HE KNOW NOTHING about running London.
Fact is he was elected and instead of getting on with preparing an OFFICIAL CONSULTATION he just held one of his own wich was directed at those already against the scheme and surprise surprise they were against it. Now after another year he has still not done the official consultation as he has moved on to his latest stunt "Removing Bendy Buses" only this is that while talk of them languishing in fields abounds the reality is they are now used by Go Ahead to supplement Route 12!!!
Fact is unlike Ken who won a mandate from the electorate for both stages from the electorate of London Boris on promised a consultation which has still not delivered and to remove the extension he should seek a mandate at 2012 election.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 24/09/2009 11:33
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So it is not about congestion but about money - same old same old..........
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 24/09/2009 11:22
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Boris is making the biggest mistake of his political career. Millions of Londoners saw his promise re the Western Zone as unconditional and will never forgive him for offering something, then taking it away. I strongly suggest he urgently reconsider this ill-advised move. Otherwise Londoners of all political stripes in future will always see him as a betrayer. By the way, his apparent readiness to continue the Western Zone purely for financial reasons demonstrates conclusively that the charge in that area of London has nothing to do with congestion and everything to do with revenue.
- Alex, London, 24/09/2009 11:10
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This affair simply underlines one of major factors which has near destroyed democracy in Britain.
Quangos.
Started to get politicians off the hook on difficult decisions these law-unto-themselves monsters are now more powerful than the elected politicians who created them.
Some of us have seen this from local experience of the activities of TfL in particular. Neither Livingstone nor Johnson seemed to be able to control TfL.
- Mike Newland, London, England, 24/09/2009 10:57
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I suspect that taking things away from the c-charge gang must be an almost sysphean task, so whilst I want Boris to do as he promised and remove the extension (and the whole thing!), he shouldn't do so at the exclusion of working on his other projects.
- St, London, 24/09/2009 10:36
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Is Boris J up to a Judicial review from Kensington & Chelsea Council, then? I never realised that the Western Extension to the Congestion Zone made so much profit. Traffic Management must exist for traffic management purposes. It is not legal under the Traffic Management Act 2004 to have traffic management only for revenue raising purposes. Any profit must go to a restricted list of beneficial purposes....it is not just up for grabs.
- Donald Smith, London, 24/09/2009 10:24
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“I don't think TfL have been as efficient as they could have been. I get the feeling they've been dragging their feet.”
...Yes, exactly, and I wonder why that is?
Don't be so quick to condemn BJ. It's not his fault.
- Kate, London, 24/09/2009 09:56
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