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| Polluting cars face charge rise | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Vehicles causing the most pollution in central London are to face huge increases in the congestion charge, mayor Ken Livingstone has announced. | Vehicles causing the most pollution in central London are to face huge increases in the congestion charge, mayor Ken Livingstone has announced. |
| The daily charge for vehicles in carbon emissions band G, which includes some 4x4s, is to rise to £25 from 2009. | |
| In 2008, the charge will be removed for cars in Bands A and B which produce the lowest emissions, Mr Livingstone said. | In 2008, the charge will be removed for cars in Bands A and B which produce the lowest emissions, Mr Livingstone said. |
| But the AA said the policy would not only hit so-called "gas guzzlers" but family cars and people carriers. | |
| HIGH EMISSION CHARGES Cars in band G include the Jaguar X-type 2.0 saloon, Range Rover 4.4 V8 petrol, Renault Espace 2 litre petrol, Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe 3.6 and BMW X5 4.8 litreThey emit more than 225g of CO2 per kilometreWill be charged £25 for entering the congestion charge zone | |
| The congestion charge scheme has been running since February 2003. The tax rose from £5 to £8 a day in July. | The congestion charge scheme has been running since February 2003. The tax rose from £5 to £8 a day in July. |
| Most cars, in band C, D and E will be unaffected and will continue to pay the £8 rate. | Most cars, in band C, D and E will be unaffected and will continue to pay the £8 rate. |
| Mr Livingstone also announced that a 90% residents' discount given to people living within the congestion charging zone will be withdrawn for vehicles in band G. | Mr Livingstone also announced that a 90% residents' discount given to people living within the congestion charging zone will be withdrawn for vehicles in band G. |
| "Most vehicles that will be charged £25, in vehicle excise duty band G, are high-priced models," the mayor said. | "Most vehicles that will be charged £25, in vehicle excise duty band G, are high-priced models," the mayor said. |
| "Those who buy them can afford to choose from pretty much the whole of the mainstream car market but have chosen to buy one of the most polluting vehicles. | "Those who buy them can afford to choose from pretty much the whole of the mainstream car market but have chosen to buy one of the most polluting vehicles. |
| LOW EMISSION CHARGES Car bands A and B include the Honda Insight petrol-electric hybrid, Smart diesel and Toyota Prius 1.5 litre petrol-electric hybrid They emit less than 120g CO2 per kilometre Will be free to enter the congestion charge zone | LOW EMISSION CHARGES Car bands A and B include the Honda Insight petrol-electric hybrid, Smart diesel and Toyota Prius 1.5 litre petrol-electric hybrid They emit less than 120g CO2 per kilometre Will be free to enter the congestion charge zone |
| "By making these changes to the congestion charging scheme we are encouraging people to take into account the impact of their choice of new car on the environment and the planet." | "By making these changes to the congestion charging scheme we are encouraging people to take into account the impact of their choice of new car on the environment and the planet." |
| Paul Watters, from the AA Motoring Trust, said the new charges would hit a lot of families when the zone was extended westwards in February. | |
| "This is another attack on people carriers and larger ordinary vehicles," he said. | "This is another attack on people carriers and larger ordinary vehicles," he said. |
| "Band G sweeps in a lot of family cars such as the two litre Ford Mondeo automatic and the two-litre Citroen C8 automatic, which will mean a lot of households being hit when the charge zone is expanded." | "Band G sweeps in a lot of family cars such as the two litre Ford Mondeo automatic and the two-litre Citroen C8 automatic, which will mean a lot of households being hit when the charge zone is expanded." |
| He added the cost of administering an emissions-based congestion charge with current technology would make it prohibitively expensive. | |
| Chelsea tractors | Chelsea tractors |
| London Assembly (LA) Liberal Democrat spokesman Geoff Pope welcomed the move, saying: "Two years ago, we championed using congestion charge bands to hit the hated 'Chelsea tractors'. | |
| "They are damaging and unnecessary vehicles in a densely urbanised, 21st Century city." | |
| The LA's Green Party said it was "fantastic news" which will mean "the end for the Chelsea tractor". | The LA's Green Party said it was "fantastic news" which will mean "the end for the Chelsea tractor". |
| The National Alliance Against Tolls said: "Band G cars will pay more from 2009, but that band only relates to cars registered after 23 March 2006, so it could have a perverse effect by encouraging the use of older vehicles." | The National Alliance Against Tolls said: "Band G cars will pay more from 2009, but that band only relates to cars registered after 23 March 2006, so it could have a perverse effect by encouraging the use of older vehicles." |
| Although the £25 band G charge is to start in 2009, the mayor has asked Transport for London (TfL) to examine the possibilities of it being introduced before then. | Although the £25 band G charge is to start in 2009, the mayor has asked Transport for London (TfL) to examine the possibilities of it being introduced before then. |