Taxi Driver Online

News is coming through of higher congestion charges in London of twenty five pounds for some high emission vehicles. Its a pity buses aren't included in this charge because to me they appear to be the biggest culprits.

Regards

JD

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If they're not up to Euro 3 emissions standard by the summer, Buses and coaches will be paying £200 a day to enter ANY part of London 24/7.

So when all these day trippers from say . . Huddersfield (Ayy-Oop) arrive on their 1986 Coach, it's gonna be an expensive one.

One of my regular customers was telling me the other day that the standard congestion charge has gone up to £10 from £8 is that true ?

I'm not sure how it works, I only ever drive the taxi into London or use the train. Check out the TFL website.

Gas guzzlers C-charge up to £25

The majority of cars are unlikely to be affected by the price increase
The highest polluting vehicles will pay a daily charge of £25 to enter the congestion charge zone, London Mayor Ken Livingstone has announced.
Mr Livingstone also revealed that cars with the lowest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will receive a 100% discount from the daily charge.

Most drivers will still pay the £8 road toll for entering the zone which covers parts of central and west London.

The new charges come into force on 27 October this year.

Transport for London (TfL) estimates about 33,000 vehicles that will now fall into the £25 charge sector drive into London each day.

GAS GUZZLING C-CHARGE
The £25 charge will apply to vehicles emitting more than 225 grams of CO2/km (g/k), as well as those registered before March 2001 which have engines larger than 3,000cc
Those vehicles getting a 100% discount will emit less than 120g/km.
Of cars currently being driven in the congestion charging zone, 17% would be liable for the £25 charge and just 2% for the total discount

It predicts about two-thirds of these will no longer come into the charge zone once the new fee is introduced.

London's Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said the new charges were likely to bring in £30m to £50m a year, with most of this money going on new cycling and walking initiatives.

"Nobody needs to damage the environment by driving a gas-guzzling Chelsea tractor in central London," Mr Livingstone said.

"The CO2 emissions from the most high-powered 4x4s and sports cars can be up to four times as great as the least polluting cars."

He said TfL would closely monitor the scheme, adding that the new scheme was flexible and that the charges and exemptions could be varied in the future.

But reaction to the scheme has been mixed.

This move is not based on logic but on the whipping up of prejudices

National Alliance Against Tolls

Sheila Rainger, acting director for the RAC Foundation, said: "The congestion charge was originally developed to reduce congestion.

"Changing this will confuse the public and reduce support and trust for future initiatives."

A spokesman for business group London First said it was "just daft" and that it would "encourage gridlock".

And the National Alliance Against Tolls said: "This move is not based on logic but on the whipping up of prejudices against those who use these particular vehicles."

Mr Livingstone's political rivals also spoke out against the changes.

Greener cars

Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate for London Mayor, said: "What Ken Livingstone is proposing is an emissions charge and it will do nothing to tackle congestion."

Boris Johnson, the Conservative candidate for London Mayor, said: "In effect, the Mayor has just given the green light for richer people to buy smaller cars and enter the zone for free while families who struggle with one big car are left feeling the pinch."

But it was welcomed by environmental groups Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth who said it would encourage people to choose greener cars.

The congestion charge was initially introduced in February 2003 and covered just central London, with the daily charge set at £5.

Since then the charge has gone up to £8 a day and a western extension, incorporating such areas as Kensington and Chelsea, has been added.

So now people will buy smaller cars and create more congestion?

Quality.

Great idea.

GBC is there a stuff the charges group on the go, if everyone refused to pay what could TFL and RED KED do about it

will I still be exempt in my 4.6 litre 8 passenger limos?

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Grandad,

We also have the low emmission zone now.

As from 2010 I will have to pay £200 per day to use my land rover in london. This is because it says "truck utility" on the log book. I spoke to TFL and they said I have 2 choices, put a later engine in it or fit a conversion. I can however fit a petrol engine to it and be exempt. So I go from diesel(28mpg) to a petrol(20mpg) and thats good for the enviroment!!.

Mark my words, if ken becomes mayor again he will use the low emmision cameras for london wide congestion charging. The cost of setting up this scheme was about £60million and the running costs are about £10million.

All from the man that has this week announced that he will spend £500million(half a billion) on new cycle routes!.

All you drivers who are out of london and think it won't affect you, think again, it will come to your part of the country soon.

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stressed controller!!!

What are the consequences of not paying, and refusing to pay any fines and what would happen if everyone decided enough is enough and refused to pay

Loads of very rich bailiffs.

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IDFIMH

I know what the folks of Huddersfield will say to that
sling yer hook lad yer daft apeth
once the bus and truck charges come in all businesses will start moving out, or there will be a massive no pay protest brought by the T&G
And as the rest of Yorkshire would say you dont know you've been born

Sussex there are parts of London where they will not dare go, even GBC he wont go south of the river even

When are you moving to London Kermit?

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Grandad,

Another load of pirate hire 4x4 on the road next week

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FORUMS ARE A GOOD PLACE TO LET OFF STEAM ! DONT TAKE LIFE TO SERIOUSLY ..