"NEW TRAFFIC REDUCTION FIGURES DO NOT JUSTIFY WESTERN EXTENSION"- POPE

12.47.37pm GMT Tue 6th Mar 2007

Commenting on Ken Livingstone's announcement today that the flow of traffic in the Western extension of the Congestion Charge Zone had reduced by a mere 13% since it was introduced on 19 February, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesman on the London Assembly, Geoff Pope, said:

"Londoners may not be too happy to hear that after spending about £120m on extending the congestion charge zone, traffic flows in West London have seen almost no reduction. Our fears about this wasteful scheme are proving to be founded. Small businesses around the extension are being squeezed and yet the extension looks unlikely to deliver the environmental benefits we've been promised.

'The scheme is already proving to be poor value for money. The Mayor could have spent the money more wisely by working with boroughs to target local congestion hotspots. The only people who are benefiting from the extension are the wealthiest Londoners who are not only laughing all the way to the bank, they're driving there too." ENDS