Travel Desk

The scrapping of the West London congestion zone has been greeted positively by business groups in London, with the London Chamber of Commerce describing London businesses "happy" with the move.
 
Colin Stanbridge, Chief Executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), commented saying:

“We are pleased to see that the Mayor has kept his word and scrapped the WEZ after tireless campaigning by the business community.  When the LCCI spoke to retailers in the West End in 2008, 77 per cent of respondents said they wanted the WEZ scrapped.”

“The WEZ only achieved minimal reductions in congestion while putting off many people from coming in to the West End to shop.  While we accept that the central zone is here to stay, we think the Mayor should now conduct an independent review of the financial impact it has on businesses across London.”

City Hall announced the end of the congestion zone on West London yesterday and said:

• Final charging day in Western Extension is Christmas Eve
• From January drivers need never be fined again when CC Auto Pay introduced
• Congestion Charging scheme suspended 25 December till 3 January inclusive
• Daily charge to increase to £10 from 4 January

It is now just under 48 hours until a major change is made to London’s congestion charge with the removal of its western extension.

The removal of the extension follows a public consultation on its future that was promised by the Mayor in his election manifesto, and that saw 62 per cent of respondents back its removal.

The last charging day in the Western Extension will be Christmas Eve (ends 6pm) before the Charge is suspended as normal over the festive period. From 4 January next year the Congestion Charging zone will revert back to substantially its original boundaries.

A number of other significant changes to Congestion Charging will come into effect on 4 January. Congestion Charge Auto Pay accounts will be introduced that will mean drivers need never be fined again for forgetting to pay the charge. These include the introduction of a new greener vehicle discount that aims to encourage a switch to cleaner and greener cars.

On 4 January the congestion charge will also increase from £8 to £9 if paid using Auto Pay; or £10 if paid in advance (or on the day) using conventional means and £12 if paid the next charging day. The increase is to ensure that the charge remains an effective mechanism to control congestion.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "The long desired eradication of the western extension is my Christmas present to the people who live, work and shop in west London. My predecessor wilfully ignored their objections, I promised a fresh consultation and I am a man of my word. Our new Autopay system means motorists need never be clobbered by fines and, with the introduction of a revamped environmental discount, this is undoubtedly the year we have made the congestion charge far fairer.”

Motorists can pre-register for a CC Auto Pay account at www.cclondon.com ready for 4 January 2025 when CC Auto Pay launches. To register, you need a credit or debit card and will have to pay a £10 registration charge for each vehicle on the account. When a vehicle is registered for CC Auto Pay drivers need never worry about being fined again for forgetting to pay the charge as the correct charge will be automatically deducted from their debit or credit card for the days they travel within the zone.

A Greener Vehicle Discount (GVD) will also be introduced from 4 January 2025 to encourage a switch to less polluting and more CO2 efficient cars. The GVD will replace the current Alternative Fuel Discount which has been outpaced by technological developments. The Electric Vehicle Discount will also be extended to include plug-in hybrids as well as pure electric vehicles.