GERMAN CAR manufacturer Porsche has officially challenged Mayor of London Ken Livingstone's £25 congestion charge by issuing its case in the High Court of Justice.
Porsche believe the increase of the congestion charge from £8 a day, or £0.80 for residents, to £25 is both unfair and disproportionate and argues the charge will increase congestion and reduce London's air quality.
A TfL-commissioned report has shown the new £25 C-Charge will increase CO2 by 182,000 tonnes. According to the carmaker the findings of the King's College research on CO2 were never revealed and only part of the report was released by TfL.
Porsche said the reason for the increase in CO2 was motorists would be forced to drive longer distances outside the Congestion Zone as a result of the new charge.
All figures previously publicly released by TfL with regard to the impact of the new charge on CO2 emissions, including during the consultation process, related only to the position within the congestion charge zone, it added.
The King's report shows that should mayor Ken Livingstone's proposal go ahead there will be an increase in CO2 emitted in Greater London in each year from 2009.
By 2012, research shows in Outer London the increase in CO2 will be nearly 184,000 tonnes, with just 2,200 tonnes saved in Central London giving a net increase of 182,000 tonnes.
Is Livingstone living in cloud cuckoo land? What do you think?
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