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| C-charge hiked for gas-guzzlers | C-charge hiked for gas-guzzlers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Low-efficiency cars could be hit with a congestion charge of £25 under tough new measures announced by London mayor Ken Livingstone. | Low-efficiency cars could be hit with a congestion charge of £25 under tough new measures announced by London mayor Ken Livingstone. |
| Under the plans, which are going out to public consultation, cars which produce larger amounts of CO2 will pay charges above the current £8. | Under the plans, which are going out to public consultation, cars which produce larger amounts of CO2 will pay charges above the current £8. |
| The highest-polluting vehicles account for about 8% of London-registered cars. | The highest-polluting vehicles account for about 8% of London-registered cars. |
| Joe Macari, a performance car dealer, said the plans would damage businesses and unjustly penalise the wealthy. | Joe Macari, a performance car dealer, said the plans would damage businesses and unjustly penalise the wealthy. |
| Increasing awareness | Increasing awareness |
| Mr Livingstone said the hike was intended to reflect those vehicles "that make the biggest contribution to global warming". | Mr Livingstone said the hike was intended to reflect those vehicles "that make the biggest contribution to global warming". |
| He said: "Londoners are becoming increasingly aware of the need to tackle climate change and this summer's floods were a reminder of the urgency with which we need to reduce CO2 emissions. | He said: "Londoners are becoming increasingly aware of the need to tackle climate change and this summer's floods were a reminder of the urgency with which we need to reduce CO2 emissions. |
| "The highest CO2 emitting cars - like some of the so-called Chelsea tractors, high-powered sports cars and luxury executive cars - can produce twice as much carbon dioxide as the kind of car driven by the average Londoner." | "The highest CO2 emitting cars - like some of the so-called Chelsea tractors, high-powered sports cars and luxury executive cars - can produce twice as much carbon dioxide as the kind of car driven by the average Londoner." |
| Mr Macari, who runs a central London Ferrari and Maserati dealership, said the new charges would amount to an extra £6,500 in yearly motoring costs for many of his customers. | Mr Macari, who runs a central London Ferrari and Maserati dealership, said the new charges would amount to an extra £6,500 in yearly motoring costs for many of his customers. |
| It's just going to hurt British industry Joe Macari, performance car dealer | It's just going to hurt British industry Joe Macari, performance car dealer |
| He said: "They're already working harder to afford the things they want to afford, why should they be penalised for being successful? | He said: "They're already working harder to afford the things they want to afford, why should they be penalised for being successful? |
| "I think his personal views are getting in front of what is good for the country, the capital and the people...it's just going to hurt British industry." | "I think his personal views are getting in front of what is good for the country, the capital and the people...it's just going to hurt British industry." |
| The charges would only apply to those driving within the congestion zone, which was recently extended into west London. | The charges would only apply to those driving within the congestion zone, which was recently extended into west London. |
| Most road users would be unaffected by the new charges and the least polluting vehicles would not have to pay the congestion charge at all. | Most road users would be unaffected by the new charges and the least polluting vehicles would not have to pay the congestion charge at all. |
| The vehicles that would fall into the £25-a-day category are those in vehicle excise duty band G, which produce 225g of CO2 per kilometre, and vehicles with engines larger than 3,000cc that were registered before March 2001. | |
| A Mori poll conducted for the mayor found 64% of Londoners expect the most polluting cars to pay the highest congestion charges. | A Mori poll conducted for the mayor found 64% of Londoners expect the most polluting cars to pay the highest congestion charges. |