Mayor quashes £25 C-charge hike
July 8, 2008
London Mayor Boris Johnson has quashed the proposed rise in congestion charge for vehicles deemed the most polluting.
Former mayor Ken Livingstone planned to raise the daily levy from £8 to £25 from October, prompting car maker Porsche to bring a legal challenge.
Mr Johnson pledged in his election manifesto to scrap the £25 charge and said the move would save legal costs.
The mayor has also scrapped a proposal to allow low emission cars free entry to the congestion charge zone.
Mr Livingstone said ditching the charge was a "further blow" to tackling climate change.
'Political tax increase'
Under Mr Livingstone's plans the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions cars would have paid £25 to enter the zone whereas cars with the lowest emissions were to get a 100% discount on the charge.
Following the proposals in February, a study said the plan would encourage smaller vehicles to enter the zone, increasing congestion and pollution.
Mr Johnson said abandoning the proposal will save Transport for London (TfL) £10m earmarked for the scheme.
He said his decision was in keeping with his aim to achieve a "fairer and more effective" congestion charge.
"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," he said.
Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche Cars Great Britain, said: "We were always confident that our legal case was right and that we would win in the end.
"The charge was clearly unfair and was actually going to increase emissions in London. Porsche is proud to have played a decisive role in striking down such a blatantly political tax increase targeting motorists."
Kensington and Chelsea Council supported Porsche's legal bid.
Mr Livingstone said the decision was "a further blow to the London as groundbreaking city to tackle climate change and improve the environment."
He added that rather than saving money "London will lose £30-£60m expected annual revenue from the scheme".
TfL was ordered by the High Court to pay Porsche's legal costs. The money will be donated to the youth charity Skidz, the car maker announced.
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