Transport for London and Mayor Ken Livingstone have rejected calls by luxury car maker Porsche to scrap plans for a £25 Congestion Charge for higher CO2 emitting cars.
Last month Porsche UK threatened to seek a judicial review of the decision to charge drivers of Band G cars to £25-a-day to drive into London.
Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche GB, has described the charge as “quite simply unjust” warning that “thousands of car owners will be hit by a disproportionate tax which clearly will have a very limited effect on CO2 emissions.”
Critics of increased charge claim it will not reduce carbon emissions and is unfair to those who are unable to afford a new, low emission vehicle.
Mayor Livingstone today called on the company to “focus their attentions on cutting CO2 emissions from the cars they produce, rather than pursuing this pointless legal action which we will vigorously contest.”
In a letter sent to Porsche yesterday the Mayor and TfL have set out why they believe the German-owned car giant’s objections are unfounded.
In a statement issued today Livingstone said “While the purpose of the CO2 Charge is not to raise revenue, we anticipate it will also raise around £30-50 million in revenue each year to begin with.”
“This money will be reinvested in transport improvements across the capital, including my plans to improve facilities for people walking and cycling in London.”
Meanwhile Conservative Mayoral candidate Boris Johnson has commented on media reports that Ken Livingstone plans to extend the Congestion Charge across London if he wins May’s elections.
Commenting on an article in today’s Times Mr Johnson accused Mayor Livingstone of being “out of touch with people living in Greater London who rely on their cars because of the poor quality of public transport.”
