London Congestion Charge and ULEZ to Recommence

[219]

Because they choose to spend time discussing increasing taxes instead of tackling far more important issues.

As for policing there appeared to be no shortage of police resources to hassle law abiding citizens sitting in parks during lockdown.

That would be because basically law abiding citizens aren’t going to stab or otherwise assault those brave police officers .

Personally I would prefer to be a tourist or shopper in a cleaner, less polluted environment so would actively seek out cities that discourage traffic. The centre of Barcelona and bruges come to mind as more pleasant places to walk than Madrid or Delhi.

Sure .
I haven’t been to any of those , but have in the past driven to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Rome,Geneva,Salzburg , parked up on arrival and had enjoyable stays . Would like to see Barcelona ; my parents honeymooned there .

 

[markjay]

EDIT

 

[richard]

If I recall, The US embassy has always refused to pay congestion charge as they argued it was a tax and diplomats are not liable to UK taxes.

So, US embassy was correct, Clearly its a tax and not about congestion (as shown by 7 days per week and late into the evenings).

 

[AMV]

I could write so much about this, but i find it pointless.

I would have thought consultation would have been required for these extended operating hours/days.

 

[219]

If I recall, The US embassy has always refused to pay congestion charge as they argued it was a tax and diplomats are not liable to UK taxes.

So, US embassy was correct, Clearly its a tax and not about congestion (as shown by 7 days per week and late into the evenings).

So all we have to do is register as diplomats and we won’t have to pay ANY taxes

If that includes fuel duty , then cheap petrol for all

 

[Deleted member 6183]

womenkind also love shopping trips into big cities , but not having a car very much limits what you can buy .

What?

All of them?

1974, alive and well.

 

[markjay]

So all we have to do is register as diplomats and we won’t have to pay ANY taxes

If that includes fuel duty , then cheap petrol for all

Sadly yes, and that includes murdering a PCW

 

[markjay]

What?

All of them?

1974, alive and well.

Ridicules post.

Women can't drive.

 

[GeeJayW]

Ridicules post.

Women can't drive.

Unless it's driving us up the wall. They can do that!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

It's been a "good time to bury bad news" in terms of extending the Congestion charge zone into the evening and into the weekend.

And in the background the extension of the ULEZ out to North and South Circular in October 2021 looms ever closer.

I just find it hilarious that this tax on private transport is being justified as being "ecologic" when it's patently a device to tax
the mainly working class simply to raise revenue for the London council. So forcing them to take unhealthy, overcrowded and inefficient public transport.

And I say this as someone who has paid Congestion charges three times in 17 years, because I have the time and flexibility to have avoided them (Not so much after October 2021)

 

[SW18]

It's been a "good time to bury bad news" in terms of extending the Congestion charge zone into the evening and into the weekend.

And in the background the extension of the ULEZ out to North and South Circular in October 2021 looms ever closer.

I just find it hilarious that this tax on private transport is being justified as being "ecologic" when it's patently a device to tax
the mainly working class simply to raise revenue for the London council. So forcing them to take unhealthy, overcrowded and inefficient public transport.

And I say this as someone who has paid Congestion charges three times in 17 years, because I have the time and flexibility to have avoided them (Not so much after October 2021)

I don’t quite view the ULEZ the same way. After all, it’s entirely avoidable by owning a compliant car - most petrol cars of the last 15 years are ok. Sure, lots of people will have to change their pre-2016 diesels, but there was 4+ years of advance notice. I’m looking forward to living somewhere without excessive NOx levels, as is the case in my area at the moment.

It should be noted that NOx pollution is an urban issue, since it disperses rapidly. But in urban areas it is topped up before it disperses, leading to dangerous levels. Some cities in particular have problems with it, perhaps because of weather conditions such as low wind levels.

 

[Darrell]

Sure, lots of people will have to change their pre-2016 diesels, but there was 4+ years of advance notice.

What about petrols?

 

[markjay]

I don’t quite view the ULEZ the same way. After all, it’s entirely avoidable by owning a compliant car - most petrol cars of the last 15 years are ok. Sure, lots of people will have to change their pre-2016 diesels, but there was 4+ years of advance notice. I’m looking forward to living somewhere without excessive NOx levels, as is the case in my area at the moment.

It should be noted that NOx pollution is an urban issue, since it disperses rapidly. But in urban areas it is topped up before it disperses, leading to dangerous levels. Some cities in particular have problems with it, perhaps because of weather conditions such as low wind levels.

I agree, though it should be says that the reason that ULEZ leaves Londoners with a bitter taste is that successive governments encouraged people to by Diesel cars through low VED and low BIK. Theresa May did acknowledge this as a problem of the government's making and promised to do something about it - but never did.

BTW, in London it's not just ULEZ as such that's the problem, also some local councils independently applied higher parking charges for older Diesel cars.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I don’t quite view the ULEZ the same way. After all, it’s entirely avoidable by owning a compliant car - most petrol cars of the last 15 years are ok. Sure, lots of people will have to change their pre-2016 diesels, but there was 4+ years of advance notice. I’m looking forward to living somewhere without excessive NOx levels, as is the case in my area at the moment.

Point taken, but a better solution would be to ban those vehicles altogether, as is done in other places, either completely or on key roads.

It's a nice excuse by government, but the congestion charge exercise is a straightforward tax raising exercise.

 

[SW18]

What about petrols?

Yes, anything before Euro 4 is charged as well. I’m guessing there are less of these around as Euro 4 has been in for a while. Though as has been said in other threads, it’s a shame for people who own and enjoy ‘young’ classics like W124, Saab 900, etc

 

[Darrell]

Yes, anything before Euro 4 is charged as well. I’m guessing there are less of these around as Euro 4 has been in for a while. Though as has been said in other threads, it’s a shame for people who own and enjoy ‘young’ classics like W124, Saab 900, etc

I need to find out what our cars are then.

 

[SW18]

I need to find out what our cars are then.

Yep, here’s the TfL checker:
Check your vehicle
Forum members noted anomalies early on, but hopefully it’s updated and accurate now.

 

[Screwdriver]

Please consider signing this petition. If nothing else, it will highlight the incredible lack of popularity of this most recent draconian tax.

Sign the Petition

Stop Sadiq Khan congestion charge price increase and keep weekends free

www.change.org

 

[Dickster]

There are several things that can help reduce traffic congestion in Central London:

1. Get people to work from home.

2. Get businesses to move out of Central London.

3. Get those who can, to walk or cycle to work, e.g the 'Boris bikes' scheme, the Cycling to Work scheme, and adding cycle lanes (and indeed many roads around London have been deliberately made narrower to allow two-way cycle lanes).

4. Get businesses to have a staggered starting time.

5. Make Central London a hostile environment for private cars, e.g. John Prescott's M4 incoming bus lane, or Ken Livingston's Congestion Charge, etc.

Public transport is not part of this equation, because the buses, tube, and trains were already running at well above capacity during rush hour (pre-Corona), and so can't be used as means of enticing motorists out of their cars.

As for ULEZ, the future is EVs, which moves the air pollution away from city centers. But this in itself won't reduce traffic congestion.

Personally, I would close down Central London for private cars altogether (with exceptions, e.g. tradesman, disabled, etc, who could apply for a permit, Licensed taxis), and make public transport free for London residents, financed through the Council Tax. With far less traffic on the roads, we could have much more buses, and possibly also see trams making a comeback.

Motorbikes don’t get a mention?

 

[Dickster]

Reinstatement of the charges is disgusting.

My office is near Bond St and we will not be returning to work because our staff have to use public transport. I travel in on Sunday mornings to pick up post etc.

Ironically, the SL55 is the only car in the household that doesn’t have to pay the ULEZ charges!