Hammersmith MP tables motion against Livingstone's plan

Greg Hands MP has taken the battle against the proposed westwards extension to the C-Charge to the House of Commons this week.

He has tabled an Early Day Motion which expresses opposition to the scheme, as well as acknowledging the work of the West London Residents Association and Angie Bray AM in fighting the extension.

The full text of the motion reads: “That this House expresses its opposition to the proposal by the Mayor of London to extend the congestion charging scheme into West London; believes that the scheme will severely penalise residents and businesses both inside and outside the extended Zone; notes the recent consultation by Transport for London in which 66% of residents opposed the plan; notes with alarm that no serious study has been carried out on the likely effects of the Extension on traffic levels either inside or outside of the enlarged Zone; and applauds the work of the West London Residents Association and Angie Bray AM in opposing the scheme.”

The motion has already won support from neighbouring MPs Malcolm Rifkind (Kensington & Chelsea), Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster) and Justine Greening (Putney).

Mr Hands feels that opposition to the scheme was one of the main reasons he won the recent general election context. One of his main election pledges was to fight the scheme which he describes as 'crazy' and he says that the Early Day Motion is just the beginning of the fight.

June 17, 2005