London Mayor Ken Livingstone has failed to consult Londoners properly about his plan to extend the city’s congestion charge zone, the London Assembly has warned.
Yesterday it backed a motion by Angie Bray AM and Bob Blackman AM that condemned Livingstone’s efforts to distribute consultation packs to residents outlining details of the zone’s western expansion.
Members of the Assembly complained that because the consultation packs were addressed to “The Occupier”, instead of naming the residents, many people may have treated the packs as junk mail and thrown them away.
“The Assembly believes that the mayor’s process of consultation on his proposed western extension of the congestion charge zone has yet again been a flawed process,” the Assembly wrote in its motion.
“Tens of thousands of residents affected by this scheme are not aware of having received the consultation document.”
The Assembly implored Livingstone to push the consultation period back until all affected residents have received packs.
Members also attacked the mayor for comments suggesting his legal requirement to consult with the public is ‘inconvenient’. They also accused Livingstone of ignoring opinion polls when the results do not produce his desired answer.
“Whether Londoners support or oppose the scheme, their views should be heard,” said Sally Hamwee AM, chair of the London Assembly. “If they believe the Mayor and [Transport for London] do not think consultation should be thorough, the process is devalued.”
Meanwhile, in response to the mayor’s latest charge plan, the Federation of Small Businesses has commissioned an investigation into the economic impact on business of the westward extension.
It will present the findings to Transport for London in July.
