Livingstone Must Get Existing Zone Right and Halt Expansion

4.33.19pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 22nd Apr 2004

Commenting on the closing date of the Congestion charge expansion consultation that ends today, Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate, Simon Hughes, said:- "This so-called consultation with Londoners is nothing of the sort. If re-elected, Mr Livingstone will introduce the expansion come hell or highwater regardless of the views of residents directly affected by any expansion."

"Mr Livingstone should concentrate on getting the existing C-charge zone right and making the existing charge easier rather than expanding the scheme to other areas."

ENDS

Notes

Mr Hughes has put forward a five point plan to make the congestion charge

easier:-

• EXTEND the period for paying at the normal rate up to midnight and for all of the following day.

• INTRODUCE block purchasing/pre pay of C-charge passes.

• GIVE five free goes into the Congestion charge zone.

• SCRAP the C-Charge between Christmas and New Year.

• HALT any expansion of the scheme into Kensington and Chelsea.