Congestion charge West London

[rov1200]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/nov/27 /congestioncharging-london Boris has abandoned Ken Livingstons scheme to charge the ultra rich Londoners for driving or parking in West London. Fayed of Harrods must be pleased as his shoppers will not now be charged. Is this a political move by Boris or does he have London at heart?

[Aquagility]

Come off the soapbox, rov1200. This was not what Boris wanted, but he had undertaken to abide by the wishes of the majority.
It's called democracy!

[Gromit]

This is hardly news. Boris' election manifesto published in February said he would scrap it. He was duly elected and he has scrapped it. It was a political moved in that it got him elected.

He might have problems fulfilling another of his election promises though...

Cut London's carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025.

[rov1200]

Turkeys don't vote for Xmas

[jake-the-peg]

Did Boris' manifesto include an amnesty for illegal immigrants?

[sandmaster]

I thought the charge was for everyone driving through this area, thanks rov for enlightening us - it was only the super rich who would suffer. Hold on - they wouldn't even notice the charge - it would be the working class driver who would feel the cost most.
What are you whingeing about?

[Gromit]

sandmaster

Livingstone might have been politically motivated for targetting Kensington and Chelsea in the first place, but it aldso happens to be where there are more of the most poluting vehicles.

The �70million revenue the charge generated which went to providing more buses and cheaper fares, will now likely result in less buses, higher fares and more people using their cars instead.

He might have problems fulfilling another of his election promises though...

Cut London's carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025.

[sandmaster]

Don't get me wrong, Gromit. I use the bus everyday. Ban cars from city centres by all means. But the point I was making the congestion charge doesn't hit the rich - it hits the working class motorist who maybe cannot use a bus - shift workers perhaps. Those not on a bus route or whose route would need 3 or 4 buses etc etc

[Davethedog]

Why has West London got the most pollouting vehicles?

Kensing and Chelsea is the richest place in the country ipso facto they have the newst cars therefore they have the LEAST polluting cars in the country.

It cost �2 to get on a bus for one stop in London (if you don't have an oyster card) and a weekly seanon ticket from suburban London to zone 1 costs over �90.

So cheap travel is a myth spread again by comrade Ken.

The tube system is practicaly unuasable at the weekend and who would use it then - Why Londoners of course.

To get from point A to B in London is a joke unless it is route linear.

[Davethedog]

Sorry about the spelling - Appalling

[jno]

currently, Chelseaites pay 80p to drive anywhere in central London because those who live in the zone get a 90% discount. Once they're removed from the zone they'll be able to clog up the streets round Harrods (but will presumably still have to pay to park) but will have to pay the full �8 to drive into the old central congestion charge zone. Given the parking problems I doubt this will really help Kensington shopkeepers much, but they must be alarmed at the successful opening of Westfield nearby with lots of parking (though not free) and several rail stations.

[Gromit]

Davethedog

Why has West London got the most polluting vehicles?

See here...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/aug/20/tra nsportintheuk.travelsenvironmentalimpact

[Hotlardlife]

No surprise from teh lefty luvvie paper the Guardian.

Driving a 4x4 does not necessarily = the most poluting car. There are many factors. Taxing a 4x4 does not tackle the problem either, you end up clobbering Ford mondeo drivers. You need to load fuel, that penalizes the heavy user. Most cars spend their life stationary. Not much pollution there.

Any anyway what has our illustious leader just bought - a nice battery car ? I dont think so.

Constant 4x4 bashing is simply thuie usual envy

[Gromit]

Don'rt like the Guardian version, her it is from the Evening Standard, publishers of the Daily Mail...

The largely affluent central areas of Kensington and Chelsea and Islington were among the worst for air quality.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-103 25616-details/Pollution+at+danger+levels/artic le.do

The pollution must come from all those Dark satanic Mills in Kensington then?

[Davethedog]

Gromit.

I can't belie that article its so one eyed.

The road from Sloane Sq to Hammersmith might have something to do with it.

Gromit do you live in London? If you do you will know how congested it is, I cannot deny that a lot of 4x4 are in that area but so are huge amounts of traffic from outside the area.

To blame it on the 4x4 is not just biased it is plain bad journalism