Archived press release

Green groups attack Government over congestion charge cowardice

14 February 2003

Please End Love Affair With The Car, Darling

A "Congestion Charge Award for Cowardice" will be delivered to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling by campaigners from leading environment and transport organizations. They will be joined by a giant chicken with a placard saying "Alistair Darling: Congestion Charge Chicken". The giant badge is being awarded because the Government has failed to back congestion charging, and done little to tackle traffic growth.

Leading environment and transport groups today accused Transport Secretary Alistair Darling of political cowardice for failing to back London's congestion charge scheme. Traffic levels in the UK have risen by more than seven per cent since Labour came to power in 1997.

Campaigners from Friends of the Earth, Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), Transport 2000 and national cyclists' organisation CTC will today deliver a special award to Mr Darling, the "Congestion Charge Award for Cowardice".

London's congestion charge scheme comes into operation at 7am on Monday 17^th February. It is the first large-scale congestion scheme in the UK. Green groups believe that congestion charging in cities can form an essential part of the solution to Britain's transport crisis, and that it must be accompanied by the provision of high-quality alternatives to car use.

The Government has repeatedly failed to support the London congestion charge. Most recently, responding to a question from Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith as to whether or not the charge was a good idea, the Prime Minister replied "as I have said before, that is a decision not for us but for the Mayor. Since we have given the power to local government to charge for congestion, we should let it do so if that is what it wishes to do"[Hansard 5^th February 2003, column 267].

Friends of the Earth's Director Tony Juniper said:
"The Government must end its love affair with the car. Congestion charging is essential for tackling rising traffic levels. But the Government is scared of upsetting the powerful motoring lobby. This cowardice will ultimately leave Britain's drivers in gridlock. We applaud Ken Livingstone for his political courage and hope that this scheme will encourage other cities around the country to follow suit".

Director of Transport 2000 Stephen Joseph said:
"Congestion charging is a brave step forward but one that has to be taken if London is not to grind to a halt. People who oppose charging should say how they would get London moving again."

Executive Director of CPRE Kate Parminter said:
"If we are to deliver an urban renaissance and protect the countryside we need to make our towns and cities more attractive places in which to live. The London congestion charging scheme will help to reduce the negative effects of traffic, such as noise, intimidation and pollution, making the city a more pleasant place in which to live and work."

Campaigns Manager of national cyclist's organisation CTC Roger Geffen said:
"The number of cyclists in London has increased by 10 per cent in each of the last four years due entirely to the reduction in traffic. If the congestion charge encourages even more drivers to cycle all or part of their journeys then both residents and workers will enjoy faster journey times, less delay and pollution, and substantially better health."

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust