Congestion zone axe ‘could bring bus and Tube fare rise’

Published: 04 June 2010
by PETER GRUNER

LONDON Assembly member Jennette Arnold this week vowed to fight public transport fare increases in Islington. 

The threat of further rises to bus and Tube fares comes after London Mayor Boris Johnson announced his intention to halve the size of the congestion charge zone before Christmas. 

The decision will cost Transport for London (TfL) between £55m and £70m a year in revenue, according to Ms Arnold, Labour member for Islington.  

The new coalition government has also announced that it is to cut TfL’s funding by £108m.

Ms Arnold said: “The cuts to London’s transport budget and Boris Johnson’s decision basically to throw away tens of millions in revenue raise the real prospect of more fare increases. 

“Islington residents on tight budgets shouldn’t be forced to pay for the Mayor’s poor decisions and they shouldn’t be subsidising wealthy car drivers in Kensington and Chelsea.”

She urged people concerned about congestion and fare rises to take part in the TfL consultation.