Williams' concern at congestion zone

1:04pm Wednesday 11th July 2001

The borough of Barnet 'will become a very large car park' when Ken Livingstone's congestion charges are introduced, believes Barnet Council Leader, Alan Williams.

Under the Mayor's plans, which will come into force in January 2003, drivers will be charged £5 for travelling into a 'congestion zone' which stretches from King's Cross to Elephant & Castle and from Hyde Park to the Tower of London.

Councillor Williams said: "Areas like Barnet outside the charge zone will become a very large public car park.

"People will park their cars in places like Barnet and Harrow and other outer London boroughs, and catch trains and buses from there.

"We are all going to be blighted by a mass arrival of commuter parking in our already congested streets. The problem becomes ours to solve rather than there being a joint solution."

"We want to see a solution that combines congestion charges with improved public transport."

He suggested that park-and-ride schemes could be set up on the edges of London in places such as Scratchwood.