C-charge hike needed to cut traffic and keep buses moving, says TfL

Raising the congestion charge and extending its hours are vital to prevent key workers being stuck on buses, transport chiefs have said.

The central London levy is due to rise from £11.50 to £15 a day from June 22 and be enforced until 10pm and during the weekends as temporary measures during the pandemic.

Transport for London commissioner Mike Brown said the proposed changes were vital to keep buses moving. He also hinted that more exemptions are likely to ensure the charge remains “fair”.

NHS staff, care workers and ambulance staff can already claim a full refund but there are calls to include other workers such as police and teachers.

Traffic in the zone is only 30 per cent down on normal levels and miles of roads are being converted into wider pavements and cycle lanes.

The C-charge, which currently applies on weekdays between 7am and 6pm, was suspended at the start of lockdown on March 23, but reintroduced on May 18 “to help limit the number of journeys made by car and to encourage more active and sustainable options”, Mr Brown said.

He told the TfL board that the congestion charge changes would “help us further reduce congestion and pollution and protect bus capacity, to ensure that those who need to use the bus network are not subject to longer journeys than is absolutely necessary.

“These proposed changes will also make it possible to provide the road space needed for potentially millions more trips that will need to be made on foot or by cycle.

“Keeping the critical traffic flows moving is really important.”

Mayor Sadiq Khan is required to “urgently bring forward proposals to widen the scope and levels” of the C-charge as a condition of TfL’s £1.6 billion coronavirus bailout from the Government — though ministers did not say by how much the charge has to rise.

A TfL consultation on the £15 levy, expanded hours and removal of the £1-a-day discount for direct debit payments closes tomorrow.

A second, fuller consultation will be needed if the changes are to be made permanent.

TfL also plans to expand the area covered by the “Boris bikes” hire scheme and is willing to trial the use of rental e-scooters.

Mr Khan’s Tory rivals accused him and TfL of trying to “sneak out” the consultation and giving Londoners only two days to respond.

Tony Devenish, a Conservative London Assembly member, said: “It’s madness to increase and extend the congestion charge while Londoners are being told by the Mayor to avoid public transport.

“Many Londoners are rightly turning to their cars for journeys which they can’t make by foot or bike to limit the numbers on public transport. Khan is hammering Londoners for doing the right thing.”

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