MAYOR'S FUDGED FIGURES EXPOSE C-CHARGE PRICE HIKE SHAM

12.01.00am GMT Thu 17th Feb 2005

On the second anniversary of the Congestion Charge, devastating new figures revealed by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats today have blown a hole in the argument put forward by Mayor Livingstone that the Congestion Charge should be increased from £5 to £8.

In the Transport Committee meeting held on Wednesday 8th February, Ken Livingstone said that the reason for the hike to £8 was to bring congestion levels within the zone to 17%-21% below pre C-charge zone levels.

However, new figures obtained by the Lib Dems show that in the third quarter of 2004/05 traffic levels were already 21% lower than before the Congestion Charge was introduced and a further 2% down on the same period last year.

Further new information revealed to the Liberal Democrats, following questions to Transport for London, shows that the Congestion Charge income will be reduced by £3million, despite the assertion by the Commissioner for Transport, Bob Kiley, that the extra revenue generated by the Congestion Charge increase will help pay for the westward extension also shows that

London Assembly Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone, said:-

"Clearly the Mayor is talking nothing but nonsense on stilts. These new figures have blown a massive hole in the Mayor's argument as to why the Congestion Charge should increase from £5 to £8.

"He said that he wants to cut traffic by 21%, but this is already happening. He then says that the extra money generated will pay for the westward extension, but according to Transport for London it will lose money and not get more.

"It is time for the Mayor to come clean with Londoners about his reasons for trying to put up the Congestion Charge."

ENDS

Notes to editor

· In the Transport Select Committee hearing on the 8th February 2005, that quizzed Ken Livingstone on the proposed hike in the Congestion Charge from £5-£8, the Mayor said:-

"We got with the existing zone a 15% reduction in traffic. We have here the prospect of taking it between 17%-21%"

This can be found 5 minutes into the webcast:-

Transport Committee - 8 February

· In Transport for London Board Papers discussed on Wednesday 9th February 2005, Agenda Item 3, Page 6, Para 3.16:-

"Congestion Charging - Traffic levels in the third quarter of 2004/05 were 21% lower than prior to the introduction of the scheme, and 2% lower than the same quarter in the previous year."

In response to questions regarding the amount of income that the Congestion Charge will generate, Transport for London told the Liberal Democrats:-

"The congestion charge income included in the budget document is £114m in 2004/5. (The figure of £118m is a more recent projection.) In addition, there is enforcement income of £64m in 2004/5. In the proposed budget, this is expected to increase to £148m for charge income and £48m for enforcement income in 2005/6. After allowing for the increase to £8, £7 for fleet vehicles, various bulk discounts being offered and an anticipation that customers will buy annual charges at the £5 rate ahead of any charge increase, the charge income actually decreases to £144m (a reduction of £4m on the budget) in 2005/6 and enforcement income is expected to be £45m (i.e. a reduction of £3m)."