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I'd raise congestion charge to £50, says Green who would be Mayor
Pippa Crerar and Emma Worthington6 Jan 2011
Green mayoral hopeful Jenny Jones set out plans today to expand the congestion charge to the M25 boundary and raise prices to as much as £50 a day.
The London Assembly member, who launched her bid this morning, said charging a steep fee was the only way to reduce car use in the capital.
"You have to raise the congestion charge by more than £10," she said. "It's quite an elastic amount people are prepared to pay it. You have to put it up to a level where people will think hard about paying it. If you put it up to £25, or £50, I'd say you're starting to get to grips with the problem." Ms Jones set out plans for a road pricing scheme that would cover the whole of London with a sliding price structure, charging £5 to travel around Zone 6 but up to 10 times that to travel into the city centre.
The system would use sophisticated technology to penalise motorists for driving during rush hour but offer discounts for travelling locally or at quieter times. She said public transport would be improved, and that reducing traffic would save lives and reduce air pollution. She also suggested businesses could sign up to large delivery depots on the city's outskirts. Ms Jones, who has sat on the Metropolitan Police Authority for 10 years, also said she would take on the new role of police commissioner.
The 61-year-old, a vocal critic of the Met's human rights record, said: "I have got huge respect for the police and think they do an incredibly difficult job but at the same time they are a very privileged group of people and at times a few of them abuse that privilege."
Ms Jones, who described the force's handling of recent student protests as "infuriating", denied that her criticisms undermined the Met. "I'm often a thorn in the side of the police but they can actually use all my complaints to make things better," she said.
"I'd have to stop moaning about them in public but that doesn't mean I couldn't still do that privately."
Ms Jones, brought up in a council house in Brighton, admitted London's affordable housing shortage would be "almost impossible to solve".
She said: "I can't see a solution. Supply now is so far behind demand. Unless we have a sudden population slump I can't see us fixing it. But I think we have to keep trying."
The former archaeologist said her green principles would underpin everything she would do at City Hall, and criticised Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone's records.
"When it comes to the crunch, when there's budget cuts, both revert to saying green is too expensive," she said. "London has gone backwards on green issues in the last two to three years."
Ms Jones admitted: "It's going to be very difficult for me to come through as a personality between the two monoliths of Ken and Boris. But hopefully I'll be seen as the voice of reason." The Greens only picked up three per cent of the first preference vote in 2008.
"An awful lot of things would have to happen for me to win," she said. "But I would be standing to set out a better view of how London could be run."
The party will announce its candidate in March.
Reader views (39)
I actually agree with her. If you want to stop global warming and breathe better air something drastic like this needs to be done.
- Jim, London, UK, 18/01/2011 19:25
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Slavery is not dead, it's alive and kicking and coming to a street near you. The European mafia have to get their cash from somewhere.
- JayOnly, KingstonUponHull, 11/01/2011 02:08
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Political suicide-an absolute idiot.
- Peter, Watford UK, 07/01/2011 00:37
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the suggestion is even more idiotic than she looks,not easy,,considering the road tax charge, the insurance charge, the revenue from fuel,,,,the employment created by car users,the parking fines ,,you name it if this revenue stops coming in all you green idiots will have to make up for the loss of revenue,,same as is happening with lost revenue through smoking,,it has to come from somewhere else ,, and the carbon that will be released from you when you realise how much it will be.... will be enough to replace all the carbon saved by banning cars , idiots the lot of you,,,
- les, what was england, 06/01/2011 20:08
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What Ms Jones has in mind to control traffic within the M25 is nothing compared to what the EU want to introduce throughout Europe, in the future .
This is to use the Galileo satellite network to track vehicle's exact movements, for road-user charging and tolling.
So, not only can they charge motorists according to where and when they drive, but they can also tell if you speed or park in the wrong spot.
You ain't seen nothing yet!
- John Smith, London, EUSSR, 06/01/2011 19:17
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@Squiz Islington.
Glad to hear you're wealthy enough to use taxis and buses. Only one small detail with your argument - the last time I looked the M25 was outside of the Square Mile. What the Green Looney is suggesting is to expand the congestion zone to the M25 and charge accordingly. I suspect you don't get out much, but it's surprisingly rural between Islington and the M25 driving people to use their own transport, especially where taxis, buses etc. are somewhat less available than in your stamping ground.
- Mike, London, 06/01/2011 17:57
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Stupid Woman, we need no further proof that the 'Greens' are a barking mad bunch of lunatics.
- Vince London, West London, 06/01/2011 16:07
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@John of St. Albans
I dont much care how much it costs to park in the CZ, or the DMZ, as I use public transport or taxis to go about my business despite being 47 and pulling down a six figure salary. Cars are fine out in the sticks but they simply are not needed or wanted in the square mile where they just cause pollution and delay for buses, taxis and emergency vehicles. Nobody needs to drive a private vehicle into the CZ at all. Use public transport.
- Squiz, IslIngton, 06/01/2011 15:33
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In the photograph Boris is clearly the Prince looking for the maiden who left her shoe at the ball after midnight. What I want to know is, where is Cinderella and the other 'ugly' sister hiding!!.
- Paul, Croydon, 06/01/2011 15:16
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Jenny Green is barking mad. She cannot be taken seriously !
- Jose Luis, London SW18, 06/01/2011 15:16
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She looks a looney, my god now she acts it!!
- Mike Coventry, Hertford GB, 06/01/2011 15:15
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Smoking too much green it seems!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 06/01/2011 15:06
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Squiz, IslIngton – I have to ask you and how much is to park once you enter the CZ? The CC is only one of the many taxes on driving into London. £8 per hour parking + 70 pence per litre on fuel tax and VAT.... no, driving is not cheaper than any other form of transport.
- john, st albans, 06/01/2011 14:55
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All the way to the M25? But of course all people living within the M25 would be exempt as they are residents? Does this woman possess no common sense at all, where exactly does she intend to fit extra passengers onto an already stretched to breaking point tube system? Voice of reason my @rse! Why are you giving this loony the oxygen of publicity.
- redsquare, london, 06/01/2011 14:47
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And it's because of idiots like this lady is why the "greens" or should that be loonies will never get into power and thank Gawd for that.
Some people have no choice but to drive to work. Public transport is expensive and unreliable. The congestion zone and other parking restrictions schemes are nothing more than stealth taxes to milk the motorist. They have nothing to do with protecting air quality or being good for the environment. When the congestion charge was first brought in and the traffic levels eased - the instigators were worried about the shortfall of revenue and then put the charge up and now it's going up even more with the excuse that it's to boost public transport. What a load of tosh. Stop fleecing the motorist. Nationalise public transport. Bring fares down. Don't expect to make profits from public transport. It should be seen as a public service that the Govt. should be investing in for the good of the country.
- HendonGooner, London, 06/01/2011 14:45
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Monster Raving Green Party. NUFF SAID
- Mr S.Port, London, 06/01/2011 14:28
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@ John Smith. About £42 return. The wife and I went for a visit before Christmas (£84 for the pair of us plus cab fare to and from Victoria = £100). It would have been a hell of a lot cheaper to hire a car and drive there and back. (Hire car £46 petrol included).
In fact had I taken a further 3 friends with me in a hire car we would collectively have made a saving of gigantic proportions.
Why do peoplebother with public transport when it’s so expensive, dirty, slow and crap?
- Daddy, Kensington, 06/01/2011 14:14
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Ms Jones, baring in mind that public transport can barely cope with those who want to use it now as well as commuters having to pay eyewatering increases with no discernable improvements, what will happen when thousand more flood onto the already stretched to breaking point tubes and trains? What colour is the sky in your world Ms Jones?
- Bleeding Heart Liberal, London, 06/01/2011 14:03
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@ Melvyn. It now costs me nothing to roll off of my driveway and drive OUT of town to my work place.
Nobody in their right mind would bother taking the car into central London from RBKC, what on earth makes you think that people in RBKC send their kids to schools in central London? There are some of the best private schools in the country here in West London! You obviously don’t know this because your politics of envy won’t let you anywhere near people with successful careers and money.
Personally I never have driven into central London as there is nothing in central London that I could possibly want which couldn’t be bought locally / from the internet or in Reading / Guildford / Kent where I usually shop (with the car).
And Melvyn you and your other tax payer hating commie pals haven’t figured out a very simple piece of mathematics.
I can buy a perfectly good second hand car with tax and MOT for £500 and not bother registering it to my address.
If I manage to drive into London (assuming I’m a commuter living outside) for 2 weeks without paying the C charge the car has paid for itself.
The parking Nazis can slap tickets on it all day long after that time and then tow it away and scrap it for all I care as I would still be quids in. Duh!
- Daddy, Kensington, 06/01/2011 13:59
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I am with her all the way - and for the full 24 hours and double charge at weekends of course.
- Patrick, Dalston, 06/01/2011 13:50
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She turns people against 'green' causes. Why not educate people that it's in their favour, instead of making people think it's only for weirdos? This is how they do it in sensible countries like Australia. These stupid people won't be happy until the wealthy have the roads all to themselves.
- Ted, London, 06/01/2011 13:38
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She just made sure she'll come last in the election with wacky proposals like that. You seriously want to charge me to nip to the supermarket despite there being no congestion and the fact that I pay road tax and double tax on petrol? It would cripple London. Not to mention the cost of implementation, the cost and environmental impact of building depots.
- Paul, IoD, 06/01/2011 13:33
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Make public transport free and I'll vote for her. I'm sick of traffic jams and petrol fumes. Just let buses and taxis use the roads. Dream on.
- Charly, London, 06/01/2011 13:19
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You know, the thing which annoys me most about loons like Jenny Jones is that they are actually doing more harm than good. They probably feel very pleased with themselves when they come out with these ridiculous policies, after all the environment comes first, right? Well, JJ, I put it to you that by issuing such utterly ridiculous policies you turn people off more moderate, sensible policies, eg bike schemes, recycling, etc. You are not helping the environment, Jenny, you are helping the people who think it’s fine to ignore the environmental issues.
Grow up.
- ST, London, 06/01/2011 13:12
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This charge will clean out London faster than a dirty nuclear bomb.
- Charles Siu, London UK, 06/01/2011 13:05
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All the way up to the M25! I think she has safely taken herself out of the running for Mayor.
- Claudio, London, 06/01/2011 13:05
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can we all wear pointy hats and walk backwards too? if she got in I would eat my pointy hat
- Peter Woods, Torre Chiana, 06/01/2011 13:05
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Good policy Ms Jones... Not!
Lets just stop all workers to shoppers to residents from getting into London and turn it into a ghost town.
Not exactly a vote winner.
- Jock S. Trap, London, 06/01/2011 13:04
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, Can anyone explain why licensed taxis don't have to pay the charge?
- Paul, London,
Yes, Paul; if taxis had to pay the charge, it would automatically be passed on to the taxi passengers etc, making it pointless using licensed taxis in the first place etc.
- mickinlondon., london, 06/01/2011 13:02
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Jenny Jones is a visual and political joke. She is like the Lib-Dems: can say anything as they are very unlikely to be in power and if they do REALITY hits hard!
- Barry from Bermondsey, London, 06/01/2011 12:49
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"Not really, Ms Jones, you could send Londons poor people to Brighton?- mickinlondon., london"
Obviously you have no idea as to what a Brighton to London return fare is Mick.
- John Smith, London, EUSSR,
It’s not the cost of a rail ticket, John, more a case of finding a train that works.
But with a little thought on behalf of Ms Jones, she could use their staff cars to ferry the homeless to Brighton.
Happy New Year to you; John.
- mickinlondon., london, 06/01/2011 12:48
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I'm sure I, and many others who live in Zone 6 would love to pay a fiver each time we needed to drive around! This woman hasn't a clue. There is no road congestion where I live, ever. Its not central London so obviously this will just be a cash cow exercise.
- Sue, Kent, 06/01/2011 12:44
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Can anyone explain why licensed taxis don't have to pay the charge?
Pity Jenny is unlikely to be elected - a £50 charge for Range Rovers and Hummers would be a great move.
- Paul, London, 06/01/2011 12:41
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" hopefully I'll be seen as the voice of reason."
Errrr....
- ST, London, 06/01/2011 12:37
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I agree - where is the disincentive to drive into town when the fee for doing so is cheaper than the shortest taxi journey ? Make it £50 and stop all these bogus registrations of sports cars as taxis and we could see some real improvements in Londons traffic. Also make large lorries only deliver in the early mornings.
- Squiz, IslIngton, 06/01/2011 12:31
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Well Boris has now made it £50 (£45 with Auto pay) per week for those in the former WEZ to take themselves to work or kids to school in Central London!!!
But thats what they all wanted to do when the voted for Boris or did they not think through how much it would cost them once they left the zone?
Of course Ken (long live the Ken) can now start with a clean sheet learn the lesson at how the WEZ increased congestion in the original zone and set up a new separate western c-charge zone extende to Hammersmith and even Wandsworth given the congestion found in Wandsworth town.
Public transort users are being made to pay so its time to end the free ride road users have and introduce tolls and charges. This would make coosing which mode to use more clearer and in the long term replace fuel duty with road pricing.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 06/01/2011 12:30
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"Not really, Ms Jones, you could send Londons poor people to Brighton?- mickinlondon., london"
Obviously you have no idea as to what a Brighton to London return fare is Mick.
- John Smith, London, EUSSR, 06/01/2011 12:29
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Quote: Ms Jones, brought up in a council house in Brighton, admitted London's affordable housing shortage would be "almost impossible to solve".
Not really, Ms Jones, you could send Londons poor people to Brighton?
- mickinlondon., london, 06/01/2011 12:06
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Its a suggestion enough to make anybody with any sense vote Green. But I'll resist the temptation. A Green Vote is a wasted Vote.
What else they could do is to allow only even numbered vehicle regs in on alternate days, thervby cutting the numbers of cars at a stroke. The idea was tried out in Paris.
- dhan raj, basildon, 06/01/2011 12:04
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