Press Release Published 6/9/2017: In June 2017, London Mayor Sadiq Khan opened a crucial consultation that will decide the future of transport in London.
The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) has spoken to several members of the public and found that hardly anyone was aware of it. Some felt that it had been seriously under-publicised.
There have been occasional tube station posters, but they are very bland, mentioning housing and employment but not the quite drastic policies planned for drivers. For instance, the Mayor’s Transport Strategy threatens the extension of the Congestion Charge across Greater London and new taxes to force drivers out of their cars.
Congestion charging spokesman Brian Mooney asks:
“What has the Mayor got to hide?
Khan amazingly claims that drivers pay too little to use the roads and they are subsidised by public transport users. Our research provides evidence to the contrary — that drivers pay four to five times over to use the roads and our taxes in fact subsidise public transport. The Mayor’s office was challenged to provide some evidence via a Freedom of Information Request, but could produce none. See notes 1-4 below.
If he thinks that the overtaxed driving public will support him forcing us to pay even more — or worse still depriving us of using the roads we’ve paid for — then he should at least be upfront with us over his plans.
It would be quite unacceptable if he takes silence as approval for his uncosted proposals — or even a blank cheque.
Particularly as he was elected on a promise not to extend the Congestion Charge. See note 5.I challenge the Mayor to appear on a mainstream phone-in with me to face the public over this important issue.
This should be within the next three weeks to meet the consultation deadline. See Note 6. ”
