Labour Party News

Boris’ “foolish” removal of Western extension will cost Londoners £70m

The Labour group on the London Assembly have criticised the Mayor’s decision to scrap the Western extension of the congestion charge as foolish against the interests of Londoners.

Labour’s transport spokesperson Val Shawcross said: “The rolling back of the congestion charge is a foolish and backward step by Boris Johnson. It will lose TfL £70 million a year that could have been spent on improving our public transport system and will increase traffic and air pollution in one of the dirtiest and noisiest areas of central London.

“London’s environment as a whole will suffer and local residents will no longer enjoy having 30,000 fewer cars a day clogging up their streets. At a time when TfL’s coffers are tight and the Mayor is scrapping major transport projects, they will now have the added costs of removing the cameras, changing road signs and removing street furniture, which cost £100 million to install.

“The Mayor has shown his true colours today - petrol blue. The decision to remove the Western extension of the Congestion Charging zone shows that Boris is not interested in making London cleaner or improving life for cyclists and public transport users. It is yet another move in favour of the private car at the expense of walking, cycling and public transport.”

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