Congestion Charge Revenue
Request ID: FOI-1247-2021
Date published: 09 October 2020
You asked
First of all let me tell you how disgraceful it is that you have increased the Congestion Charge fee from £10 to £15* and increased the enforcement hours all in the name of helping Londoners get around easier during the pandemic.
But as Londoners ourselves, you and I honestly know this is not true and you are simply using this tactic to increase your revenue to the detriment of the public who are having to pay for it. London is not even as busy today as it was pre lockdown so your excuse is very weak and unplausible.
Now that your new system is in place, can you please report to me how much revenue you have made in Congestion Charge including related penalties and fines compared to the previous month and exactly how this money is being used?
I note that whilst you state you have increased the charge to £15 this is not true is it? Because I entered the zone last week at around 4 pm. The following morning I tried to pay for the fee online but was charged £17.50! I know it's only £2.50 more but its the principal. The principal of theft from the community by the Mayor by levying extra hidden charges on Londoners which are not clear anywhere on your website or other material. You are in fact charging £17.50 per day to enter the zone.
Can you please explain that to the public in an announcement because I feel people must know the correct charges. And secondly, please explain why you have included hidden charges which can be likened to a cowboy builder?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1247-2021
Your email of 30th September 2020 to the Mayor (copy attached for ease of reference) has been sent to Transport for London (TfL) for response.
Your request for recorded information has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
In relation to recent changes to the congestion charge, you asked:
“Can you please report to me how much revenue you have made in Congestion Charge including related penalties and fines compared to the previous month and exactly how this money is being used?”.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require, which is provided in the table below. Please note that we report in 4-week financial periods not months.
|
Period
|
Period Start
|
Period End
|
Charging days (old scheme)
|
Charging days (new scheme)
|
Charge (£m)
|
Enforcement (£m)
|
Total (£m)
|
|
2021 P2
|
03/05/2020
|
30/05/2020
|
10
|
0
|
5.2
|
1.0
|
6.2
|
|
2021 P3
|
31/05/2020
|
27/06/2020
|
15
|
6
|
11.3
|
1.8
|
13.2
|
|
2021 P4
|
28/06/2020
|
25/07/2020
|
0
|
28
|
21.4
|
6.1
|
27.4
|
Note further that:
P2 only had 10 days of charging as the scheme was suspended until 18 May.
P3 had 15 days at original hours/rates and 6 days at the new temporary hours/rates.
P4 is the first complete period of income following the changes.
We reinvest every penny of our income to continually improve the London transport network.
.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
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Yours sincerely,
David Wells
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
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