I was pleased to be able to speak with Tara O'Connor from MyLondon about Sadiq Khan's plan to potentially introduce at 'greater London boundary charge' that could see those from just outside Croydon being charged £5.50 to shop locally, visit their friends and relatives, or simply to go to work.
It's a terrible plan, that will increase the cost of living unnecessarily and make it that much harder for people to go about their business.
An excerpt from the article is below:
A ‘greater London boundary charge’ is one of the possible methods being considered for Transport for London to bring in more money and reduce emissions. It was first mooted by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
It would see drivers from outside London being charged £3.50 to enter any London borough, increasing to £5.50 for more polluting vehicles.
The tax would not apply to cars registered in London, but there are concerns that those just on the outskirts of places like Coulsdon, Purley and Kenley would be put off coming into the area to shop.
Coulsdon Town councillor Mario Creatura said: “I think it is going to have a devastating impact on local people. If you are a person who lives in Chipstead your nearest supermarket might be in Coulsdon.
“Every time you do your weekly shop you’re going to have to pay, it doesn’t seem sensible or fair to me.”
He also thinks that it would make life difficult for people visiting family in the area and affect business in Croydon.
Cllr Creatura said: “The boundaries of London may make sense from a political perspective but in reality they don’t exist, you don’t pass through a checkpoint. People who live on the fringes of London don’t consider themselves to be in London.
“I know one lady who lives in Reigate who regularly comes to visit her mum in Purley, she will now have to pay each time she does this. To increase the cost of living for these people is an abomination.
“A lot of people drive into Croydon to park to commute into London, it would makes their lives more difficult and expensive.”
He added that many people drive into Croydon from areas in Surrey to go shopping and this tax could put them off doing so.
You can read the full article online on the MyLondon website.
Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash
