The £25 London congestion charge for gas guzzlers is likely to be scrapped within the next few weeks, CAR Online has learned. A spokesman for Transport for London (TfL) said it ‘wasn’t expecting to implement’ previous mayor Ken Livingstone’s proposed increases planned from 27 October 2008.
That means the judicial review filed against TfL and the London mayor could also be dropped by Porsche. Porsche GB told us it was taking stock following the election of Boris Johnson.
A TfL spokesman told CAR Online: ‘The mayor sets London’s transport policy. Boris Johnson opposed the congestion charge, so we won’t be implementing the charge.’
Boris Johnson dropping the £25 Congestion Charge
Johnson opposed the £25 charge, and the western expansion, in his campaign manifesto. Following his election Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche GB, said: ‘This election represents a rejection of extreme proposals like the unfair £25 tax on motorists that would actually increase CO2 emissions. Mayor Johnson has consistently made clear he will scrap this new charge and develop sensible alternative transport policies for London. We are looking forward to working constructively with him on this.’
Porsche GB officially filed a judicial review against the London mayor and TfL on 2 April 2008. The mayor and TfL then had 21 days to acknowledge the filing and a further 35 days to ready any defence.
That means that by the end of May 2008 a judge will decide whether the case can go to court. Expect an announcement from Boris Johnson and TfL in the next few weeks – which could scupper any chance of legal action in the first place.
