Transport for London proposes to raise congestion charges for high carbon vehicles
Fri 10 August 2007
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Transport for London has launched a public consultation on proposals to charge cars with the highest greenhouse gas emissions £25 a day to drive in the present central London Congestion Charging Zone. 100 per cent discounts for the cars with the lowest emissions are also proposed.
The proposals would mean that vehicles in Excise Duty Band 'G' and equivalent - some high powered sports cars and expensive luxury vehicles - would pay £25 to drive in the zone. Meanwhile, the lowest C02 emitting vehicles (120g or less) would qualify for a 100 per cent discount. The great majority of drivers within the zone would be unaffected, and would continue to pay the standard £8 charge.
The Government's new Local Transport Bill includes a clause saying that any council considering introducing a new "pay-as-you-drive" scheme must take account of environmental factors.
The proposed changes to the London charge will surely be watched closely by at least ten other cities considering their own congestion charges, including Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester and Cambridge. Drivers entering Manchester are expected to pay at least £5 a day from 2012.
The London Mayor, Ken Livingstone said: "Londoners are becoming increasingly aware of the need to tackle climate change and this summer's floods were a reminder of the urgency with which we need to reduce C02 emissions."
"By proposing these changes to the congestion charging scheme we are encouraging people to take into account the impact on the environment of their choice of car.
Responding to the proposals, SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said: "We will push for a re-think on these totally disproportionate proposals. A family whose car emits one g/km more than their neighbour's could end up paying thousands of pounds more a year. That can't be right."
Jenny Jones, Green member of the London Assembly, criticised the proposal for suggesting that small, low emission cars should be allowed to enter the charge zone free. She said it could add to the already high levels of congestion.
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