TfL Ref: 1882-2021

Thank you for your request received by us on 16 December 2020 asking for information about the Congestion Charge scheme.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked for:

what processes LT has put in place to monitor the impact on congestion charge payments and fines of road diversions and other activities which could result in additional use of the congestion zone (such as the closure of Vauxhall Bridge). I do not need to know the detail of the monitoring, just whether any monitoring has been put in place and the general nature of the monitoring (eg, comparison between the revenue from fines collected during the period with the expected value, or the revenue collected in previous years

I can advise that when a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is issued, we do not record the reason behind a penalty being issued, such as due to a diversion, for example.

Monitoring does take place by way of a report indicating levels of traffic volumes recorded by cameras located on a diversion route. The expectation being, and for the purpose of the monitoring exercise that we see zero camera activity on diversion routes. As the cameras should be turned off, no incidents recorded equates to no PCNs being issued. The secondary purpose of the report is to monitor if cameras are inadvertently turned back on.

Since the cameras are turned off we would expect no fines to be issued to vehicles using the route in question. Furthermore, we would not know if a PCN was issued to a vehicle that had deviated from a diversion and therefore we could not monitor whether additional PCNs are being generated due to the diversion or if additional vehicles are using the diversion route to gain free access to areas within the charging zone. Likewise, drivers may of their own volition choose to use a route not indicated as a (free) diversion route and pay the charge or forget to pay it, which would result in a PCN being issued accordingly.

If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London