Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Congestion

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Sunbury Victoria Australia
    Posts
    24,991
    Thanks (Given)
    8300
    Thanks (Received)
    10126
    Likes (Given)
    106523
    Likes (Received)
    45653

    Default Congestion

    Some years ago a Congestion tax was introduced to central London.
    The concept, to reduce the number of vehicle in that area.

    There has been talk here in Oz with state govs and councils about a similar scheme.
    But from what we have seen when visiting London the tax has done nothing, the traffic now appears to be more than ever.

    On the news yesterday a bit about the Lord Mayor of London, there are now, from what i could make out, two other zones around London where there is an Emissions tax applied to vehicles??

    Some councils are reported to be against an increase in the charge, I assume this is part of the 'Climate Change', regulations that many western nations are implementing.

    But is it there to do that or is it just a tax and nothing else??
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

  2. Thanks Doc Vernon thanked for this post
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    South Shields
    Posts
    5,203
    Thanks (Given)
    480
    Thanks (Received)
    6080
    Likes (Given)
    4096
    Likes (Received)
    14782

    Default Re: Congestion

    As part of the u.k drive to net zero carbon emissions and coupled with the medical evidence on the health of it's citizens, years ago central London was dedicated a low emission zone and you had to pay to enter it unless you were driving a non polluting vehicle.
    Present mayor of London is now extending this ultra low emission zone out into the suburbs. Another tax on Londoners to help him pay for his disastrous time as mayor.
    This revenue raising scheme has been taken up by other cities, Newcastle has recently introduced a clean air zone in the city centre, so if you drive an older, greater polluting vehicle, you have to pay for the privilege of driving into the city centre.
    Rgds
    J.A

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2022
    Location
    Basildon
    Posts
    703
    Thanks (Given)
    54
    Thanks (Received)
    339
    Likes (Given)
    578
    Likes (Received)
    2520

    Default Re: Congestion

    I don't mind the original one in the city, but the outer London one is punishing the working classes. Most people are struggling to live anyway in the suburbs, now this twat wants to screw them even more. The Zone covers pretty well everything within the M25, so people with older cars are in trouble, and there are millions. It's strange how these politicians wait until hard times, to screw the people they represent. I suppose it's the old adage "The beating will continue until morale improves"
    One of my relative told me that he can't even think about the zone, due to worrying about paying the rent/rates and everything else that goes with living in London.
    I'm lucky, I moved out 47 years ago to just outside the M25.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Central London
    Posts
    636
    Thanks (Given)
    308
    Thanks (Received)
    715
    Likes (Given)
    2632
    Likes (Received)
    2424

    Default Re: Congestion

    The original idea of a congestion zone appeared to be a good idea as a way to cut down on vhicles and polution. It did neither. I live on the Fulham road which is in central London and is as busy and polluted as it always has been. The original Zone as mentioned was extended which made not an iota of difference. The new emision zones are just an extention of the original concept with a catchy name. Central London has an excellent transport network which is under used except at rush hour. I think that probably 50% of the vehicles travelling here do not need to do so, the exception being on transport strike days. The national and local governments have tried many different means to discourage motorists including astronomical parking charges, restricted parking areas with time limits and extended local parking permits. None of them work as people seem to look at the strategies as just another tax. One other heavy pollutant over central London are the aeroplanes with their exhaust fumes plus the noise nuisance. which nobody has bothered addressing since Boris was mayor. Some of the more responsable companies in central London who have their own parking spaces will not issue permits for staff usage unless they can show extenuating circumstances. Private parking spaces are being discussed as the next possible tax on motorists in London so those companies are probably just preempting future legislation.

  6. Thanks Des Taff Jenkins thanked for this post
  7. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    isle of wight
    Posts
    6,701
    Thanks (Given)
    2291
    Thanks (Received)
    5237
    Likes (Given)
    15143
    Likes (Received)
    24215

    Default Re: Congestion

    most large cities are starting to hone in on the money earner, calling it the clean air zone, but in Portsmouth most HGV are exempt , we have all sat behind HGVs churning out large volumes of diesel smoke. The list at present is Bath, Birmingham, Bristol,, Greater Manchester, Portsmouth, Sheffield, and Tyneside, no doubt will spread much further, no choice but to open the wallet and suck it up.
    R689823

  8. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    CHESTER LE STREET
    Posts
    2,326
    Thanks (Given)
    699
    Thanks (Received)
    1255
    Likes (Given)
    12937
    Likes (Received)
    8310

    Default Re: Congestion

    Quote Originally Posted by John Arton View Post
    As part of the u.k drive to net zero carbon emissions and coupled with the medical evidence on the health of it's citizens, years ago central London was dedicated a low emission zone and you had to pay to enter it unless you were driving a non polluting vehicle.
    Present mayor of London is now extending this ultra low emission zone out into the suburbs. Another tax on Londoners to help him pay for his disastrous time as mayor.
    This revenue raising scheme has been taken up by other cities, Newcastle has recently introduced a clean air zone in the city centre, so if you drive an older, greater polluting vehicle, you have to pay for the privilege of driving into the city centre.
    Rgds
    J.A
    I think it only currently applies to commercial vehicles, buses and taxis. I can still recall a Newcastle newspaper article years ago announcing that the corporation were ditching all the trolley buses in favour of diesel buses as thy were much more versatile.

  9. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Location
    Prenton
    Posts
    2,772
    Thanks (Given)
    343
    Thanks (Received)
    1210
    Likes (Given)
    2237
    Likes (Received)
    3917

    Default Re: Congestion

    A simplier way to reduce congestion and pollution in central London would be to export jobs to the regions!! Not rocket science is it. There are excellent internet & broadband networks nation wide!!! oh hang on a minute was that not the idea about creating the Northern power house Sorry forgot the current mob have even made a kucf up of that.

  10. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Cooma NSW
    Posts
    8,967
    Thanks (Given)
    10195
    Thanks (Received)
    5220
    Likes (Given)
    44136
    Likes (Received)
    26883

    Default Re: Congestion

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Taylor View Post
    I think it only currently applies to commercial vehicles, buses and taxis. I can still recall a Newcastle newspaper article years ago announcing that the corporation were ditching all the trolley buses in favour of diesel buses as thy were much more versatile.
    Meanwhile in Sydney they have put in electric trains at a cost of $billions to stop pollution, and in Parramatta they are doing the same. Sydney once had a great tram system but some intelligent person had them ripped out for diesel buses.
    Des
    PS the trams, Spanish made were all taken off line as their undercarriages all cracked, poor steel.
    Last edited by Des Taff Jenkins; 11th February 2023 at 12:59 AM.
    R510868
    Lest We Forget

  11. Likes happy daze john in oz liked this post
  12. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Sunbury Victoria Australia
    Posts
    24,991
    Thanks (Given)
    8300
    Thanks (Received)
    10126
    Likes (Given)
    106523
    Likes (Received)
    45653

    Default Re: Congestion

    I can see the pint of maybe a cleaner atmosphere having been in the 'Smog' years in London.
    But with the cost of EV and the wait for them, the current cost of living I see this as just window dressing by the various councils to show they are doing something.
    The WOKE brigade love it.
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

  13. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Location
    Prenton
    Posts
    2,772
    Thanks (Given)
    343
    Thanks (Received)
    1210
    Likes (Given)
    2237
    Likes (Received)
    3917

    Default Re: Congestion

    A lot more people would leave the car at home if there was a decent public transport system (that was not on strike) For years we have had park and ride systems working which thankfully are being used a lot more.
    The thing that does my head in are the mum's who are 2 effing lazy to walk wee johnny the 1/2 mile to the school so glutter up the rush hour traffic doing the school run.

  14. Likes Tony Taylor liked this post

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •