£25 Congestion Charge Scrapped

Good News for van and lorry using trades In London as Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has scrapped plans to make owners of gas guzzling cars pay a £25 congestion charge.

The Mayor said: “I am delighted that we have been able to scrap the £25 charge, which would have hit families and small businesses hardest. I believe the proposal would actually have made congestion worse by allowing thousands of small cars in for free.”

The higher charges were due to come into force on October 27, with the £25 charge applying to vehicles emitting more than 225 grams of carbon dioxide per one kilometre, as well as those registered before March 2001 which have engines larger than 3,000cc. Of cars currently being driven in the congestion charging zone, 17 per cent would have been liable for the £25 charge. The decision comes just one week after Mr Johnson announced he would review the western extension of the congestion charge, another major policy of his predecessor’s. The five-week consultation on the extended congestion charge zone will begin in early September, the consultation is open to anyone, but Transport for London (TfL) is most keen to hear from residents, businesses and retailers in and around the zone.