West Londoners unhappy with extension, authorities not worried by doubters
by David Kyle

In February 2007 the congestion charge is due to affect a much larger space of central London, meaning more drivers will have to pay the £8 charge.

The scheme has been running in central London for three years and has been the cause of a rapid drop in emissions and congestion in the region.

Habib Rakhman owns a restaurant just a stones throw from Chelsea Football Club’s home ground, Stamford Bridge, and is concerned that business on weekday matches will be affected.

“There is a car park there and to drive through it they’ll have to pay the congestion charge, on top of it meals and then a ticket. Of course business will be affected.”

Jamie O’Hara, spokesperson for the scheme’s governing body, Transport for London, believes that there are always people out to doubt the scheme’s intentions.

“We’ve had doubters from day one. But we’re continuing to prove those doubters wrong.”

In this case the doubter seem to be people trying to run a business who will be encased by the newly extended zone, however Mr O’Hara thinks that this will not be the case.

“A lot of the concerns come from businesses and through our own and independent research we’re able to prove that the congestion charge has had a broadly neutral impact on the businesses in the central zone.”