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