Boroughs reject emissions-based charging

25 October 2007

Introducing emissions-based congestion charging in London next autumn would not be a good way to tackle climate change or cut journey delays, according to London Councils.

Transport for London has proposed to base future central London congestion charge payments on CO2 emissions, with the most polluting ‘band G’ vehicles paying £25 instead of £8, while band A and B vehicles would pay nothing.

London Councils, responding to the consultation, has highlighted that the new charging system ‘doesn’t do anything particularly well’, Nick Lester, its director of transport and environment told Surveyor.

‘Congestion is creeping back up in the charging zone, and these proposals will lead to congestion increasing still further,’ he said. There would be ‘no disincentive’ for the ‘relatively-significant’ numbers of people with band A and B cars to not drive into central London.

While 14% of private cars would be liable for the new, much higher charge of £25, ‘the likely response of those owning these vehicles will be to change their car’, claimed Lester.

London Councils wanted alternative measures to tackle transport’s contribution to climate change.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has slammed the emissions-based charge in a new report commissioned by Land Rover, claiming it could be ‘a costly and risky white elephant’. The charge would ‘worsen congestion, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and further deteriorate air quality’, the report said.

It estimates that more than 4,000-10,000 cars will be on central London roads and costing the economy £20-50M annually in delays.

A TfL spokeswoman said: ‘TfL has already given a cast iron commitment that we will carefully monitor the introduction of the scheme, should it go ahead, to ensure reduced congestion and CO2 benefits are maintained.’

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