Congestion Charging

Traders' Ken-free zone

Jul 4 2003
By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali

South London Press

IT MAY be hailed a traffic-busting triumph, but these posters show Ken Livingstone's congestion charge is not proving popular with everyone.

Ken Free Zone posters are being plastered up on shopfronts by independent traders along the Walworth Road, claiming they are being crippled by the £5-a-day scheme.

While traffic levels in central London are down by nearly 20 per cent since the charge was introduced, Walworth Road traders are among those who insist the scheme is decimating small businesses.

Although just outside the boundary, traders along the bustling street say they have seen profits plummet as shoppers avoid the zone as well as surrounding areas.

Traders say out of town shopping centres such as Bluewater in Kent are reaping the benefits, while they are being hung out to dry.

Rescue London is a non-political pressure group formed by Walworth Road traders last year.

Then, they feared the charge would hit traders hard. They now say those fears have come true.

Spokesman Jim Abbotson said: "There are fewer customers, and traders have stopped crossing central London to buy goods. Traffic may be down in central London but this scheme has not been a success as far as businesses go."

Rescue London believes better and cheaper public transport is essential to their future.

The group also believes supermarkets have a huge advantage over independent traders because they are able to offer free parking for customers.

In May, the South London Press reported how traders in Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall had seen profits plummet by as much as 30 per cent and traders were moving out of the area.

The Federation of Small Businesses also told a transport committee at City Hall the charge did not "distinguish between essential and non-essential traffic", and claimed increased costs were being passed onto traders.

Traders are being backed by London Assembly Conservative spokeswoman Angie Bray who said: "If he ignores these protests, the Mayor is showing he cares more about saving face than the survival of Elephant and Castle's business community."

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said: "TfL has a long term and ongoing monitoring programme which includes the effects on businesses.

"It is far too early to attribute any small business figures to congestion charging. There may be a lot of reasons why profits are falling, including an economic downturn."

He added: "What we do know at this stage is there is not a reduction in the number of people coming into London."

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