Over half of London's road users support road user charges where those who drive for longer and at busier times pay more, a cross-party London Assembly report says today in a bid to embolden the London Mayor to replace the flat rate charge.
The report urges the London Mayor in his first transport strategy due to be published in the spring to respond to a decrease in journey time reliability by both setting out short-term plans to reform the current congestion charge so that those entering the zone at peak times, and those spending longer in the zone, pay more. The Assembly also recommends that he sets out longer-term plans for city-wide road user pricing. The Evening Standard commented that "a new version of the congestion charge is long overdue" and it backed a city-wide charge.
Caroline Pidgeon, the chair of the committee, said: "Something dramatic has to be done about the enormous congestion problem on London's roads. This is costing our city money and costing Londoners their health and well-being. Road pricing where those who contribute the most to congestion pay more would be a fairer approach."The Assembly says that vehicle excise duty should be devolved to the Mayor so it can be replaced. It also backs reducing restrictions on night-time deliveries, piloting a ban on personal deliveries for staff, and piloting a workplace parking levy.
