KILEY C-CHARGE EXPANSION PLANS RIGHT IN PRACTICE BUT MUST BE DECIDED BY LOCAL PEOPLE

9.49.15am GMT Tue 25th Jan 2005

Commenting on the comments made by Bob Kiley that congestion charge should be extended to main roads across London, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone, said:

"The proposals put forward by Bob Kiley for tackling congestion using a tag and beacon scheme are right in principal. However, it must be for the Boroughs and not the Mayor to decide which are the hot spots they want to tackle and it must be with the agreement of local people.

"The widening of the Congestion Charge across the whole of London must be adopted in a way that ensures that by charging on main roads, vehicles do not go rat running round back streets. If this happened it would be dangerous for pedestrians, ruin the quality of life for local residents and fail to tackle congestion in London."

ENDS