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Congestion charge 're-think' is backed

Jul 30 2002

South London Press

THE Kennington Association has been backed by GLA members in its bid to get Ken Livingstone to think again over his controversial congestion charge plans.

Traders and residents in and around Kennington are bitterly opposed to the plan to charge drivers £5 a day to enter central London as they insist the proposed Kennington Lane boundary will "divide the community in two".

There are fears that traffic along the narrow and largely residential boundary road could increase by up to 15 per cent.

Now some GLA members plan to write to transport commissioner Bob Kiley to express concerns about the charge, which could be introduced as early as February. While the majority of GLA members on the transport committee support the mayor's proposals in principle, they are concerned about a number of issues, including traffic management outside the zone in places like Kennington.

The controversy about the Kennington boundary culminated in a huge protest at Kennington Cross earlier this month when hundreds of banner-wielding protesters blocked off Kennington Cross. And the Kennington Association challenged the Mayor's plans in the High Court along with Westminster council. The result of the judicial review is expected later this summer. TfL says Kennington residents were consulted before the scheme was given the go-ahead and that changing the boundary would 'not be practical'.

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