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Logistics UK welcomes new weekday Congestion Charge times but opposes the higher charge
Following temporary changes introduced last summer, Transport for London (TfL) launched a consultation on permanent changes to the Congestion Charge last week (28 July 2021).
TfL increased the charge level to £15 in June 2020, as part of the conditions of the financial bailout package from the government. It also removed the discounts for Auto Pay and Fleet Auto Pay and increased the charging hours from 07:00 – 18.00 Monday to Friday to 07:00 – 22:00 seven days a week.
To make any of these temporary charges permanent, however, TfL needs to undertake a full statutory consultation. The proposals are to reduce the hours of operation to 07:00 – 18:00 Monday to Friday, to 12:00 – 1800 at weekends and the charge remaining at the higher £15 rate.
“Logistics UK welcomes the proposals to revert the operational hours of the Congestion Charge back to the original weekday timings in place before the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Natalie Chapman, Logistics UK’s Head of Policy – South. “Logistics UK has long campaigned for flexibility surrounding delivery hours to encourage and enable businesses to carry out their deliveries at less congested times to reduce emissions, improve the safety of vulnerable road users and increase operational efficiency. Moving back to the original timings provides additional flexibility to retime deliveries and is supported by our members.
“However, Logistics UK opposes the proposal to retain the higher £15 charge and weekend charging, which simply amounts to an additional tax for logistics businesses who currently have little alternative but to use lorries and vans to keep London stocked with all the goods the population needs.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns/urban-logistics
Published On: 05/08/2021 16:00:38
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