C-charge extension gridlock
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
19/09/2008
West London could be gridlocked for a generation if the wrong decision is made on the future of the congestion charge, warned council leaders today.
The Mayor of London launched his consultation on the future of the western extension of the c-charge earlier this month and Londoners are now voting on whether the extension should stay as it is, be changed or be scrapped.
Residents have until Sunday, October 5 to influence the future of zone and Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council is holding a Congestion Charge Summit at Hammersmith Town Hall to thrash out the issues once and for all.
H&F Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Nicholas Botterill, says: “There are a variety of views out there but it must be said the vast majority of local residents have consistently said they want this failed experiment to be discontinued.
“This council was against the extension before it was imposed, we are opposed to it now and we will continue to push for it to be scrapped.”
Before the extension was added from February 19, 2007, a Transport for London (TfL) probe proved that H&F had the most congested roads in London. The figures showed a staggering 7.6 million hours were lost in traffic in H&F, compared to 6.9 million in neighbouring Kensington & Chelsea. There is no evidence that the extension has reduced congestion in H&F.
The council believes the western extension has failed and should now be dismantled because:
It’s not working: H&F has the most congested roads in the capital and in central London congestion is now back to pre-c-charge zone levels
It’s West London’s ‘Berlin Wall’: Families unable to pay the tax on drivers have been cut off from relatives and vital services, like hospitals and schools
It stifles local trade: Business, like florists, estate agents and dry cleaners, have complained about being cut off from customers as they cannot afford the £8 levy every day
It’s not fair: Residents inside the zone get a 90 per cent discount to travel into central London with H&F residents paying full price
It clogs parking bays: Statistics prove commuters are dropping cars off around tube stations in H&F before finishing their journey into the zone
It’s an inefficient tax: Drivers handed over £252 million to TfL last year but when running costs are taken into account, TfL was left with a net income of just £89 million
Cllr Botterill added: “West Londoners cannot afford for this decision to go wrong. Everyone is welcome to attend the debate on the future of the extension and I would encourage everyone to respond to the Mayor of London’s consultation before the deadline on October 5.”
Have your say by logging on to www.tfl.gov.uk/westernextension (opens new window) or by calling 0844 415 4425. H&F Council’s Congestion Charge Summit starts at 7pm on Wednesday, 1 October in Hammersmith Town Hall.
