London toll.htm

Tuesday, 26 February, 2002, 14:50 GMT
Motorists to pay London toll

Ken Livingstone hopes charges will reduce traffic by 15% Motorists driving into the centre of London will have to pay a £5 toll, the city's mayor has announced. Ken Livingstone said he would push ahead with his plans in a move which he believes will drastically reduce the amount of traffic on London streets. Drivers entering the toll zone, which covers an area eight miles wide in the centre of London, will have to pay a daily fee between 7am and 6.30pm on weekdays, or face an £80 fine. But Conservatives have called on the government to block the policy, which takes effect on 17 February 2003. Congestion charges explained Click here to see proposed charging zones Mr Livingstone said: "For the first time there will be a serious attempt to tackle the chronic traffic congestion in central London. "If we get, as we anticipate, a reduction in congestion of up to 15%... this will be the first time we have started to see congestion come down and an easier ability to get around on our streets." The mayor's announcement follows news of other long-term plans to tax motorists around the UK according to the distance they drive. Under those charges motorists could have to pay up to 45p a mile to use the busiest routes.