The UK’s £25 congestion charge is no more following a consent order that legally brings a formal end to any court proceedings between Porsche, Transport for London and the London mayor.
In his pre-election plans Boris Johnson had always stood against the proposed charge – a huge hike from today’s £8-a-day charge. Once in power, Johnson’s legal team advised him that the charge was unlawful and should have taken into account research carried out by King’s College. That research showed the proposed charge would increase CO2 output in Greater London by 182,000 tonnes per year.
It’s not just the £25 charge that’s axed, so are low-CO2 concessions
As well as scrapping the £25 charge, Boris Johnson also today ditched plans that would have allowed low-emission cars free entry into the congestion charge zone.
Porsche has been awarded legal costs following the consent order and will donate the money to charity. The costs – expected to be a six-figure sum – will be given to Skidz, a charity that takes young people off the street and trains them as car mechanics.
‘We were always confident that our legal case was right and that we would win in the end,’ said Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche Cars GB. ‘The charge was clearly unfair and was actually going to increase emissions in London.
‘Porsche is proud to have played a decisive role in striking down such a blatantly political tax increase targeting motorists. We are pleased to now be able to give back to London by donating our costs to a cause that concerns all of us, reducing knife crime.’
Click here to read Ben Oliver’s blog on why Boris Johnson is wrong to scrap the £25 charge