Owners of ”gas guzzlers” including sports cars and many 4x4s will have to pay a ”25 ($49) congestion charge every time they drive into central London from October.
They will not be eligible for a resident”s 90% discount either, as they are at present.
About 30,000 - one fifth - of the 150,000 cars entering the congestion zone each day will have to pay this maximum charge, and London mayor Ken Livingstone says he expects about 9,000 fewer as a consequence.
Meanwhile, the most environmentally friendly cars ” currently about 2% of vehicles used in the zone - will be able to enter free of charge.
”The CO2 charges will encourage people to switch to cleaner vehicles or public transport and ensure that those who choose to carry on driving the most polluting vehicles help pay for the environmental damage they cause,” said Livingstone.
”This is the ”polluter pays” principle. I have every sympathy with a Scottish hill farmer who needs his 4x4 to get around. But there is absolutely no justification for cars producing high amounts of pollution being driven in central London.”
The move is part of a package of measures to help reduce CO2 emissions in the capital by up to 60% by 2025. A ”500m ($978m) investment in walking and cycling paths was also announced, and revenue from the new charge ” expected to be between ”30m to ”50m ” will help pay for this.
Political opponents were quick to strike though. Conservative mayoral candidate Boris Johnson said: ”Londoners use their cars because of the appalling state of the transport system. A big car tax won”t change that. We need better alternatives to get out of our cars - especially those who live in the outer boroughs with bigger families, many of whom can't afford to swap cars.”
And Liberal candidate Brian Paddick, said: ”Those who can afford Chelsea tractors can afford a ”25 ride into London. Allowing small vehicles to enter the zone will only add to congestion and bring London to a halt.”
All band G vehicles with engines bigger than 3,000cc ” including the Land Rover Discovery 3 - will be charged ”25. Cars in the A and B band ” which include the VW Polo BlueMotion, Toyota Prius 1.5 petrol hybrid and Ford New Focus 1.6 diesel ” will receive no charge.
Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) applauded the scheme, saying London”s reputation as ”a pioneer of progressive transport will be further enhanced ” ”This will send a strong signal that driving around in cars that do only 15 miles (24km) to the gallon is unacceptable in the face of global warming,” said CBT campaigner, Richard Bourn.
The congestion zone was introduced in 2003 and according to Transport for London has resulted in 70,000 fewer cars entering the capital”s centre every day. It costs ”8 for most vehicles.