Western Extension Scrapped, Lib Dems Celebrate

12.52.00pm GMT Thu 27th Nov 2008

This picture from 2004 shows how long the Lib Dems have been pushing for this abolition.

The Kensington & Chelsea Liberal Democrats are celebrating the decision by Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, to scrap the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge. The local Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for the abolition of the extension since 2004, citing the devastating impact the charge has had on local business owners, particularly shops and stall holders on and around Portobello Road.

"As many business owners said to us, who would come to Portobello's iconic market to spend a fiver on fruit and veg if they have to pay £8 to do so?" said local campaigner Peter Kosta.

Mr Kosta congratulated all the residents and business owners who responded to the Transport for London consultation in which 67% of residents and 86% of local businesses voted to scrap the charge in this area. An extraordinary 28,000 people took part.

"The people have spoken," said Mr Kosta. "Labour brought this ill-conceived extension in and the local Tories have been dithering terribly for a year or so. But the Liberal Democrats spotted what a devastating effect the extension was having on local shop owners and market stall holders. Its abolition is a victory for the local community."

Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, the Lib Dem transport spokesperson at City Hall, added: "It is good that that this ill-conceived idea will be abandoned. This now gives the Mayor and Transport for London the freedom, and money, to explore with London's boroughs a more sophisticated system of road pricing."

The Lib Dems believe the Mayor should be using technology to target local congestion hotspots across greater London.