Congestion Charge Increase? "Ken, you CANNOT BE SERIOUS" says Road Haulage Association

LONDON, March 1 -- Ever since London Mayor Ken Livingstone implemented the congestion charge in February 2003, the Road Haulage Association has lobbied for commercial vehicles to be excluded from the GBP5.00 daily fee.

The Association is therefore dismayed at the latest Mayoral proposals to increase the charge to GBP8 per vehicle per day - a massive 60% rise and a commercial vehicle delivering into the congestion zone, Monday to Friday, will pay an extra GBP15.00 per week. That's an additional GBP780 per year for an operator with one vehicle. And for the operator with a 5 vehicle fleet? They'll have to fork out an extra GBP3,900 a year - and that's on top of the GBP6,500 they currently pay!

RHA Chief Executive, Roger King, stated "Even Ken Livingstone can't seriously expect everything to be delivered into London by water and rail, so how can he continue to justify charging trucks for carrying out deliveries and collections within the capital? The congestion charge has always been sold on the premise that it will reduce levels of congestion, but until a serious alternative to the truck is available why should we pay to deliver?

"Commercial vehicle operators do not send their trucks into the congestion zone for any other reason than to ensure that the capital is serviced in an efficient and cost effective manner. If trucks are priced off the capital's roads, it wont be long before central London becomes a ghost town.

"To make matters even worse, operators and their customers do not have the option of scheduling deliveries to take place during the night-time period to avoid the charge as they are then governed by the existence of the outdated London Lorry Ban!

"Come on Ken, declare trucks exempt from the charge and help businesses survive in London. YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE"

Note to Editors

The response period for views on the proposed variations to the Greater London (Central Zone) Congestion Charging Order 2004, put forward through the making of the Greater London (Central Zone) Congestion Charging (Variation No.5) Order 2004 ended on Monday 28th February 2005.

The Road Haulage Association - supporting the industry on which the UK depends.

Contact Kate Gibbs, RHA Communications Manager on : Tel: +44-(0)1932-838917, Mob: +44-(0)7979-531451, Fax: +44-(0)1932-858916