LIVINGSTONE IGNORED HIS OWN TRANSPORT BODY'S ADVICE ON C-CHARGE PRICE HIKE

4.13.16pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Apr 2005

Commenting on the publication of the consultation into the 60% Congestion Charge price increase that shows Transport for London advised the Mayor not to raise the fee to £8, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone, said:-

"To ignore the feelings of Londoners, the opinions of business and the views of Transport for London smacks of arrogance and contempt.

"Mr Livingstone's second term as Mayor has already been littered with numerous occasions where he has left himself increasingly cut off from what people in London really want. Now he is even isolated from the opinion of his own Transport body.

"In the face of such almost unanimous hostility towards the 60% hike in the Congestion Charge, it is time the Mayor used the impending General Election as a pause for thought before going ahead with such a large increase."

ENDS

Notes to editor

The full publication of the consultation into the rise of the Congestion Charge from £5 to £8 can be found at:-

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/downloads/pdf/congestion-charging/v05/VO5_RTM.pdf

Transport for London's advice can be found on Page 17, Paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 and says:-

"6.1. TfL considers that the representations received do not directly challenge the underlying rationale for the proposals: an intensification of both the operational and financial impacts of the scheme.

6.2. Given the extent of the opposition to the proposed increases in the charge, however, the Mayor may wish to consider whether a lower increase in the charge may be more appropriate."