Urgent reforms to London’s Congestion Charge are being called for after a report published last week revealed that the annual cost of traffic delays on the capital’s busy roads now stands at £5.5Bn.

 

The report from the London Assembly’s Transport Committee highlights that this annual cost has increased by 30% since 2012/13. It urges the Mayor to reform the Congestion Charge and ultimately replace it with a system of road pricing that would see users pay according to how much they contribute to congestion.

 

“Something dramatic has to be done about the enormous congestion problem on London’s roads. The issue is costing our city money and costing Londoners their health and wellbeing,” said the Assembly’s Transport Committee chair Caroline Pidgeon.

 

“A total rethink about who uses our roads and how is imperative to get the veins and arteries of our great city flowing freely again.” She added: “Transport for London is doing a lot to tackle congestion, but not enough. Road pricing would be a fairer approach.”

 

In the short term the committee says that a new charging structure should be developed that ensures vehicles in the Congestion Charge zone at peak times, and spending longer in the zone, face the highest charges. The report also includes recommendations that the Mayor should reduce restrictions on night time deliveries and pilot a local workplace parking levy.

 

Chair of London TravelWatch Stephen Locke commented: “There is an urgent need for a citywide initiative to tackle the rising demand for road space. That plan should include a detailed assessment of the scope for road pricing, and a full public debate.”

 

London Chamber of Commerce & Industry chief executive Colin Stanbridge said: “We have said that the Congestion Charge no longer serves the purpose for which it was created and would not oppose targeted charging in principle. However our concern would be that businesses are not used as a money spinner and any new scheme takes into account the economic value of a journey.”

 

Responding to the London Assembly’s report Deputy Mayor for Transport Val Shawcross said: “There are some innovative new ideas here that we will look closely at.”

 

She added: “We’re already taking practical steps to tackle congestion, including coordinating roadworks better and providing better information for road users. We’re pushing ahead with bigger changes too, including investing record amounts in making cycling and walking safer and easier, and making public transport genuinely affordable.”

 

(Photo: mariordo59 and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)