Congestion Charge – Success or Failure?

The question whether the congestion charge is one that is very difficult to answer. The main ambiguity involved is that there are two sides, both with vehement opinions.

The difficulty lies with the fact that Transport for London will always back the initiative, whilst facts that are supplied from a group who are against the charge will always highlight the inefficiencies from the charge.

So whether the charge is a success or a failure will always be dependent on where the reader stands. It is safe to say that the congestion charge can be deemed a relative success according to how many of the facts and figures support the initiative’s initial plans.

If, for example, the plans of the charge were to cut emissions by a certain amount by a certain time then it could be that the charge is successful in this respect. However new issues do arise over time and these issues can have effects on a person’s opinion of the charge. One of these issues is the effects on retailers in the congestion area, but once again whose perception of the charge does this effect?

>>> NEXT: What did the congestion charge plans outline?

 

(Audio Interview: Matt Hardman from Forum for Private Businesses CLICK HERE)