Dear Mr Mayor,
In the latest Transport for London (TfL), bailout negotiations, we are writing to you asking that you not introduce a border charge for drivers who enter Greater London.
As outlined in TfL’s Financial Sustainability Plan, your proposal to charge up to £5.50 to drive into the capital would seriously hurt Outer London and the Home Counties.
Every weekday, Greater London sees 1.35million vehicles. One million of these vehicles travel to Outer London. The majority of these cars are not registered in the capital and will therefore be subject to your daily limit charge.
At least 675,000 drivers would face the daily fee. TfL initially estimated that there would be a 8% drop in weekday car trips to Greater London. This means 108,000 fewer people per day.
These figures are important for the communities within and outside of Washington.
A boundary fee would be applied to Outer London residents who visit family or friends. The charge would have a negative impact on local businesses as well as high streets that depend on tourists and clients from out of the capital. This would discourage people from outside Greater London to work in the capital, which could impact our business and undermine public services.
London has more than half its police officers and firefighters who live elsewhere. One-fifth could face the same charge according to London NHS Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, and police officers.
Surveys of London Borough of Bromley schools revealed that many of the teachers are from outside of the city. Another school stated that up to 40% of its staff could face the charge and warned it that it might struggle to recruit or retain teaching staff.
For the Home Counties, a boundary charge would mean a substantial pay cut of up to £1,000 a year for people who regularly drive into Greater London for work. Some communities would be separated from the nearest school, hospital or town center.
Many could face charges of up to £33 a day to drive into the capital – the combined cost of the Greater London Boundary Charge, Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone.
This also penalizes those who can only access London’s public transportation network via driving to Stanmore or Epping. Many places outside London have less good public transport connections than central London.
You should be concerned about the amount of cars that are driving through the Capital. Instead, look into Outer London’s public transport system. You should not impose new road taxes. Instead, offer people an alternative to driving. Install electric charging points so that people can switch to electric cars.
The fundamental problem with charging drivers to get into London is that it goes against the ‘London is Open’ message. This would create a barrier in Greater London that keeps visitors, customers, and workers out, which will be detrimental to everyone and benefit no one.
TfL has yet to publish the feasibility report on the charging, despite promising the London Assembly in June that they would. Yet, you threaten to increase this tax even though you don’t know the effects it will have on individuals and businesses.
The mayoralty’s failed policies and poor management cannot be passed on to others. TfL had already lost billions before the pandemic.
Irresponsibly freezing fares cost at least £640 million in lost revenue. The delay to Crossrail has cost nearly £4 billion in bailouts and lost TfL £1.35 billion in fares revenue. TfL’s bonuses, perks and golden pensions are a waste of millions of pounds every year.
UK taxpayers will ensure that London is moving forward in this crisis. They don’t need your threats. However, it is important that you contribute your part to TfL’s finances.
When you start new negotiations to secure a second bailout for TfL we ask you to abandon your proposal of a boundary charge. This will be the fourth bailout and build on the almost £5 billion the Government has provided to keep London moving. Instead of making threats we ask you to cooperate constructively with Government officials to reach a financial settlement that benefits London and all citizens.
Sincerely,
Peter Fortune, AM For Bexley and Bromley
Nickie Aiken MP for Cities of London & Westminster
Gareth Bacon is the MP for Orpington
Shaun Bailey, London-wide AM
John Baron MP for Basildon & Billericay
Emma Best, London-wide AM
Bob Blackman MP for Harrow East
Cllr Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, Leader of the Conservative Group in Hammersmith and Fulham
Andrew Bof, London-wide AM
Felicity Buchan is a MP for Kensington
Elliot Colburn MP for Carshalton/Wallington
Oliver Cooper Leader, Conservative Group Camden
Kevin Davis Leader, Conservative Group Kingston upon Thames
Tony Devenish is AM for West Central
Tom Drummond Leader, Conservative Group of Sutton
Ian Edwards Leader, Hillingdon Council
Sir David Evennett is MP for Bexleyheath, Crayford
Mike Freer is the MP for Finchley Green and Golders Green
Louie French MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup
Neil Garratt AM for Croydon & Sutton
Susan Hall, London-wide AM
Stephen Hammond MP for Wimbledon
Paul Hodgins is the Leader of Richmond upon Thames’ Conservative Group.
Adam Holloway is the MP for Gravesham
Redbridge Conservative Group leader, Linda Huggett
The Conservative Group Leader in Waltham Forest is Cllr Tim James
Gareth Johnson is MP for Dartford
Joanne Laban is the Leader of Enfield’s Conservative Group.
Julia Lopez, MP Hornchurch and Upminster
Joy Morrissey is the MP for Beaconsfield
Sir Bob Neill MP for Bromley & Chislehurst
Teresa O’Neill is the Leader of Bexley Council
Paul Osborn is the leader of Harrow’s Conservative Group.
Jason Perry, leader of the Conservative Group at Croydon
Chris Philp is Croydon South MP
Keith Prince, AM to Havering and Redbridge
Nick Rogers, AM South West
Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford
Dean Russell MP for Watford
Paul Scully is the MP for Sutton and Cheam
David Simmonds MP for Ruislip Northwood, Pinner
Colin Smith Leader, Bromley Council
Henry Smith, Crawley MP
Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP for Chingford Green and Woodford Green
Dr Ben Spencer MP for Runnymede & Weybridge
Gregory Stafford is the Leader of Ealing’s Conservative Group.
Beckenham, Colonel Bob Stewart
Barnet Council leader, Daniel Thomas
Laura Trott is the Sevenoaks MP
Theresa Villiers MP for Chipping Barnet
Damian White Leader of Havering Council