Boris to scrap entire congestion zone?

This has got be good news. Boris has been asked outright what he intends to do and he's 'brooding' about it.
C'mon fella. I urge you to see sense. We must stop seeing the motorist as a means of raising revenue. If you want to ease congestion you have to encourage people from their vehicles by improving public transport. Stop hitting drivers with more taxes. Most of us need personal transport. It isn't a lifestyle choice.
Livingstone's congestion charge didn't improve traffic flow and became too expensive. It has destroyed businesses and burdened other businesses with unbelievable extra cost.
Remember that congestion is self-regulating. People won't drive if they can't get anywhere. With expensive car parking in city centres (which is so prohibitive it puts many drivers off from driving into them), the only view of congestion charging is that it's obviously anti-car and anti-motorist.

This is how today's Evening Standard reports it:

BORIS JOHNSON is considering scrapping the entire congestion zone to boost the London economy, he announced today.
The Mayor has already said he will get rid of the western extension zone, but has now pledged to look at abolishing the charge covering central London.
When asked about the issue at today's Mayor's Question Time he said he would "brood" on the matter but wanted to be convinced it would not have an adverse effect on congestion.

Captain Gatso
http://captaingatso.net

London congestion charge zone slashed by Boris Johnson

It's good to see common-sense prevails in the office of the Mayor of London. Now that the idiot Livingstone has gone with his hatred of cars (and especially motorists) we should start being happier about what might happen to the capital's roads.

The good news here is that it should deliver a blow to the congestion charge vote taking place in Manchester.

Congestion charging doesn't work. It makes driving for poor people prohibative and doesn't have an impact on CO2 emmissions or any other nonsense thrown up as a reason for having it.

Here's The Times:

The London congestion charge zone will be halved after Boris Johnson, the Mayor, decided to abolish the western extension introduced last year by his predecessor, Ken Livingstone.

The decision follows a bitter dispute between the mayor and senior officials in his transport authority, who accused him of ignoring the benefits of the £8 daily charge and acting on a flawed public consultation.

The powers-that-be say it's a wrong move but Boris is responding to a survey of public opinion who want the scheme abolished.

But hang on - that's democracy isn't it? And that's something that Nu Labour and their henchman don't want.

Well done Boris.

Manchester - vote against congestion charging!

CG
The Motorists' Friend
http://captaingatso.net