New vehicle charge introduced in London tomorrow

[Manky Monkey]

Tomorrow, (23rd October '17), sees the start of a 2nd charge on certain vehicles entering the inner London area.
As well as the congestion charge, which affects more or less every vehicle moving through the zone between 7am & 6pm, Monday to Friday, there'll be a new charge for higher emission vehicles, during the same hours. The new fee is known as the T Charge -T standing for Toxicity, not Thieving.

The Toxicity Charge is £10 per day & the Congestion charge is £11.50 a day if you pay in advance or on the same day or £14 if you don't pay until the next day.
So motorists with cars that don't meet Euro 4 standards, (typically those built before 2006), will have to pay £21.50 to drive in the zone if they pay in advance or on the day.

The Mayor of London, Mr Khan, is investing £875m over the next five years to improve the City's air quality.
Other initiatives include the launch of the world's first "Ultra Low Emission Zone", which would mean that all vehicles, except taxis, had to adhere to minimum emission standards. This is subject to consultation but could be in place in central London by 2019.

If you live within the charging zone you can apply for a 90% discount on one vehicle, but you'll need to pay a £10 admin charge.
Discounts also apply to Blue Badge holders, vehicles with more than nine seats and those that are considered "ultra-low emission". These are vehicles under 3.5 tonnes that produce less than 75g/km of CO2.

If you're caught not paying the charges you'll be sent a Penalty Charge Notice of £130. You've got 28 days to pay or challenge the fine. If you pay it within 14 days the fine is reduced to £65. If you fail to do anything the charge will increase to £195, with no chance to appeal.  

At the moment neither charge applies at weekends or in the evenings, so won't affect most car/motorcycle events, but presumably the hours of operation will be gradually increased as most older vehicles are scrapped.

[Baychimp]

Its a shame considering the rest of the Capitals problems,that Mr Khan can't find something better to spend £875 Million pounds on.

[poprodder]

coming to a city/town near you soon.  oh yes.

[stinkey]

But what you spend the money on is the question ? Being an ex London boy,I've seen the effects air pollution has done to my family members and myself over the years,and often takes years to manifest itself ?
I'd say these politicians don't do enough sometimes,but always try to make US pay back for their Schemes ? I'd like to see more Trams/electric cars/taxi, with less trucks coming in to Central Cities,maybe having Trams that can carry bigger contained loads instead ?
I'm sure we will see Driverless containers/ trams/taxis soon anyway? I can't wait to see the first Passenger DRONES 

[Manky Monkey]

They reckon there'll be 10,000 older cars & vans affected by the new charge every year. So that'll generate 100,000 quid. As you say though Stinks, what do you spend it on to improve air quality? Is there anything other than vehicles you could change?

[paulywombats]

I wonder why London isn't a derelict waste land.

There must be something about the place, I just don't see it.

So glad I don't have to participate in the rat race, good luck to anyone who does.

[stinkey]

Andy if nobody comes in with their older vehicles,how can you generate the money ??
And London like any city..has many good points..and I'm extremely proud to say I'm a Londoner ,but I don't miss it..all my family have moved out and most of my mates..and the areas I once lived in have changed population wise, in numbers and Racial..to far for my liking..but hey !..I definitely see petrol/diesel vehicles declining very rapidly over the next few years..and hope I live to see many new and exiting changes?

[JayJay]

So buses and coaches still have to pay something? Well either bus fares go up or they will have to be (even more) subsidised. As for coaches, think how much income they must bring in to London. You only have to count the coaches coming to the West End to see how much and then you have all the museum and art gallery trips. Seems like an own goal. I appreciate we don't want our children who walk closer to exhaust levels than adults breathing chemicals but surely there are other ways than penalising the motorist. The petroleum industry has billions, let them look at ways to improve fuels or let the builders of electric cars find a way to make them more accessible to Joe Public.

[morrag]

Now here's a suggestion that might possibly bring down howls of protest, well from certain quarters anyway, why not , as so many politicians have threatened over the years! move all off those companies/ services etc. that really do not require to be seated in the capital to operate in this electronic/WWW /social media age, after all "The Donald" runs the most powerful economy on earth that way!....out! Bingo, less traffic, problem solved, will it happen....yeah right! ...Morrag

[stinkey]

Well Morrag..if they all moved out where would they go ?  I'm sure you'd prefer them in London rather than in a village near you/us ?
Oh no,no,no...

[morrag]

Mmmm...Since you put it that way,I have obviously not thought this through!! I shall get back to y'all...Morrag

[Manky Monkey]

Apparently the London borough of Islington charge you 96 quid more for a parking permit to park in your own road if you drive a diesel. Edinburgh is scheduled to start a similar scheme next year.

[stinkey]

Time to buy the new Mazda petrol vehicle ?

[Baychimp]

There is something ironic about Islington charging more if you drive a Diesel. Its a Labour held ward, and it was the New Labour Fascists that encourged people to buy them.Now they penalize them. Strange people Politicians.

[JayJay]

There is something ironic about Islington charging more if you drive a Diesel. Its a Labour held ward, and it was the New Labour Fascists that encourged people to buy them.Now they penalize them. Strange people Politicians.

They have probably forgotten that. The majority of politicians seem to do that. I could count on one hand politicians from all parties who have retained their integrity and speak out when they don't agree with the party line. That's out of 650 MPs at the last count. Shameful.