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Press Release Mayor scraps £25 congestion charge The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has delivered another promise made in his election manifesto by ending proposals for the CO2 Charge, which would have charged owners of large family cars £25 a day to drive in the Central London Congestion Charge zone. The High Court has now confirmed that the paper work necessary to end the proposal has been completed and the CO2 charge is no more. This means there will be no increase in charge for drivers of Band G vehicles from October 2008. The Band A and B discount, which would have resulted in thousands of cars driving in the zone for free and adding to congestion, has also been removed. Ending the CO2 charge at this stage means that Transport for London will save approximately £10 million that was still due to be spent on implementing the scheme. A charity is set for an unexpected financial windfall from the scrapped proposal. As the decision on the C02 charge is being overturned Porsche is entitled to have its legal costs paid by Transport for London. However Porsche have offered to donate the money they receive to Skidz, a charity that provides young people, particularly those with few advantages, with mechanical skills and training that could lead to future employment. Skidz will use the money to set up a branch in Hillingdon. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: “My commitment to making the congestion charge fairer and more effective for Londoners is well known. And 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. “I am very pleased to hear that rather than adding to their own coffers, Porsche have decided to use the costs we are now required to provide them with to support Skidz. That is a generous decision and I am delighted that Skidz will use the money to offer training for young people in the capital.” Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London, said: “We will be working with the Mayor to strive to cut CO2 emissions from transport in London by promoting cycling and walking, encouraging people to drive in a more efficient way and by cutting Transport for London’s own CO2 emissions.” The decision by the Mayor means that the discount for alternative fuel vehicles will remain in place and the existing Congestion Charge scheme will not be affected. The London Low Emission Zone, which seeks to reduce harmful emissions from the largest diesel-engined vehicles like lorries, buses and coaches, is unaffected. Notes to Editors MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Press information is available from the Mayor’s Press Office - contact Jonathan Edwards on 0207 983 4337 or 07825 781 014; email jonathan.edwards@london.gov.uk
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