Does Ken want more congestion zones? (From Croydon Guardian)

Does Ken want more congestion zones?

8:37am Tuesday 11th March 2008 in

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Ken Livingstone is secretly planning to extend congestion charging to Sutton, Croydon, Kingston and Hounslow, according to The Times.

According to the report, Transport for London identified areas the areas in 2006 that might benefit from congestion charging.

The newspaper says a source close to Mr Livingstone said TfL was developing plans to introduce charging to other congested parts of the capital "but was under strict orders not to disclose anything before polling day".

Mr Livingstone yesterday launched his transport manifesto, which did not include any mention of the new congestion zones.

Instead it included plans to take over Croydon tramlink and extend it to Crystal Palace, allowing pensioners and the disabled to travel free on public transport 24 hours a day, putting 500 hybrid buses on the road by 2010 and introducing the £25 CO2 charge for gas guzzlers driving into central London.

Mr Livingstone says all replacement buses will be hybrids by 2012, cutting CO2 emissions by 40 per cent.

Other plans include: New technology to allow Oyster Pay As You Go top-up via mobile phones 20mph zones around schools and on residential streets to reduce death and injury 4,000 satellite-linked bus stop information signs Continued free travel for under 18s on the buses A central London bike hire scheme with 6,000 bikes available every 300m and free to use for the first half hour Mr Livingstone said the biggest job facing London's mayor was delivering existing projects including the £16billion Crossrail scheme and £1billion a year of Tube improvements.