20.02.05
New doubts were raised today over plans to raise the congestion charge from £5 to £8 a day. Bosses at Transport for London (TfL) say the rise is vital to cut traffic in the city centre by between 17 and 21%, but TfL's own survey shows it has already fallen by 21% inside the charging zone.
In a further blow to the planned increase, a survey by Westminster council found that businesses fear they will suffer if the zone is extended to cover west London, as TfL plans.
Business leaders also say the rise from £5 to £8 a day, in addition to parking charges which can be as high as £1.40 for 20 minutes, will deter people from spending money in the planned extension to the zone.
The Liberal Democrat Transport spokeswoman at the London Assembly said: 'These new numbers have blown a massive hole in the Mayor's argument' to increase the congestion charge to £8. 'He says he want to cut traffic by 21%, but this is already happening. It's time for the Mayor to come clean about his reasons for putting up the charge' she added.
[The 'coming clean' comment relates to the suggestions that, since the congestion charge was introduced, a much smaller number of cars are using the zone - and paying the charge - than the Mayor and his team had budgeted, and that the proposed increase in the charge is to plug the gap in funding that this has left, and nothing to do with congestion as the Mayor would have Londoners believe.]
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