Congestion Charging

Malcolm Murray-Clark, Assistant Director Street Management, Transport for London, on 10 April 2002

Before joining Transport for London, Malcolm was with Westminster Borough Council and the Greater London Council. His talk was concerned with the proposal to introduce congestion charging in central London but the discussion covered the general field and especially the situation in Bath.

It is considered necessary to introduce a congestion charging scheme in central London because the area has been starved of investment for improvement of the traffic system for years; the systems capacity and performance are inadequate, and this is affecting business efficiency and the quality of life of inhabitants. Vehicles spend half their time in queues.

The aim is to increase the capacity by 40% by 2011, by rail and road improvements. This will include two new cross-London rail routes, an improved network of bus routes and 200 additional buses with more conductors. At present, 85% of the people come into central London by public transport and it is hoped to increase this by 1 or 2 %. It is believed this will be sufficient to reduce the traffic by 10 - 15% , which will cut delays by 25%, assist better operation of the buses and produce a revenue of £2.5M per week hypothecated to be spent on improving public transport services. For example, by subsidising bus fares to a uniform 70p flat fare; strict enforcement of bus lanes; providing taxi cards, road maintenance, road safety; and all-night public transport, and in the long-term, cross-London rail routes, expansion of the Underground and installation of tram systems.

There is substantial public support for congestion charging (provided hypothecation is included), in the proposed area, which is enclosed in the Inner Ring Road, shown on the map approximately. There may be some objections at the edge of the area where residents cross the border frequently. There has been considerable negotiation with London boroughs who have been provided with money to start parking and loading restrictions; streetworks; and diversion routes for those wanting to avoid the controlled area.

camera enforcement

The procedure, which has been the subject of 18 months consultation and is now agreed, will involve those vehicles wishing to enter the area having their number plate registered at a charge of £5 per day (for Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 6.30 p.m.) , with a late payment period until midnight, charged at £10 after 10 p.m.. Residents within the area will receive a 90% discount, so will pay 50p per day, and certain vehicles will be exempt - emergency vehicles; taxi- and mini-cabs; disabled drivers; buses and coaches; those powered by selected alternative fuels; selected on-call NHS staff and some patients.

Enforcement will be by photographing vehicles entering, leaving and within the area with over-head cameras that record a general view of the vehicle in colour and the number plate in close-up. It is claimed one camera will record 85% of the vehicles passing under it, and the multiple camera arrangement will record almost every vehicle satisfactorily. The cameras are connected to a central computer, which is connected to DVLA to check ownership of the vehicle, and which checks that a valid payment has been made. An £80 penalty will apply to anyone unauthorised who enters the area.

Payment for entering the area will be made by buying tickets at shops or by phone, internet or post and payment collection will start in October 2002 ready for the system to come into operation at 7 a.m. on 17 February 2003.

Further details of the system can be obtained on the web site: www.streetmanagement.org.uk

Discussion

It was pointed out that hypothecation for improving bus services only worked in London because the buses there were regulated as to fares, frequency and routes by Transport for London. In Bath the buses were controlled by First Group.

Congestion in Bath was not considered sufficient to warrant charging. It was considered that in Bath this would just be another way of raising money from motorists.

The effect of a controlled zone on business prosperity in Bath compared to other local towns without such a zone was queeried, in view of the protest from businesses about the `busgate'.

It was pointed out charging HGV to come through Bath would discourage those not delivering to Bath from using this route.

The audience agreed that it would be interesting to see the result of the experiment in London and then consider how to apply it to Bath. The speaker was invited to return for another session in a year or two's time.

Donald Lovell