Currently reading: London congestion charge area doubles

As of 19 February, the London road toll has increased

From this morning, 19 February, the London congestion charging area has roughly doubled in size.

Despite opposition from both residents and business within the newly extended zone – well over half of whom voted against it – the extended zone came into operation at 7am.

The increased zone now encapsulates most of the boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.

Critics say that the extended area did not suffer undue congestion, and certainly not as much congestion as other, less wealthy parts of London. They also add that areas surrounding the zone are likely to experience worsened congestion.

Transport for London argues that congestion within the extended zone will drop by 10 to 15 per cent.

However, within the original zone, congestion has crept back up, increasing to the point where it is now only eight per cent lower than it was before any charging zone at all.

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