Congestion charge and Climate Criminals

The congestion charge rose to £8 per day on July 4 for the 10% of people who do not travel into Zone 1 by public transport, a move welcomed by pressure group Transport 2000 as sensible. The results of a public consultation on extending the zone westwards are due to be published later this year. Transport for London predict this would reduce the amount of traffic entering the western zone by 5 - 10% and reduce congestion in the western zone by 10 - 20%.

Monitoring has shown that the scheme has reduced traffic congestion within the current charging zone by 30%. The net revenues from the western extension are predicted to be around £30-50 million per year, which are required by law to be spent on transport improvements in London. The earliest any proposal would be implemented would be early 2007.

The Alliance Against Urban 4x4s campaigns against growing presence of 4x4 vehicles in urban areas. You can sign the online petition addressed to Ken Livingstone and Alastair Darling via their website.
 
The group objects to the use of these vehicles in urban areas because they: 
   •  generate emissions at a rate that puts our climate and health at risk.
   •  pose a physical danger to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of smaller cars.
   •  present a unique problem because of their combination of weight and power.
 
The alliance is calling for drivers of 4x4s to pay a £20 congestion charge, increased road tax, for exclusion zones in urban areas, and an advertising ban. The new Range Rover Sport, for example, only does 12 miles per gallon in the city compared to the European Car of the year, the Toyota Prius, which does over 55 miles per gallon.

Greenpeace is continuing with its 'Climate Criminals' campaign - see their website for details of online actions you can take part in. There's more information available on the BBC's Action Network noticeboard.

The government's White Paper The Future of Air Transport outlined its plans for massive expansion of the UK's aviation industry, including new runways at Heathrow and Stansted, new terminal developments across the country, and new surface transport developments (predominantly roads) near airports. The number of passengers using UK airports increased six-fold between 1970 and 2002. With 189 million passengers passing through UK airports each year, the growth looks set to continue and may reach 460 million by 2020. You can join over 2,000 signatories making an online pledge resist airport expansion. Airport expansion is opposed by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, the Environmental Audit Committee, and the Sustainable Development Commission, not to mention thousands of local residents. At least 300,000 people suffer from noise pollution from the four major UK airports, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton.

New research commissioned by Friends of the Earth and published by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in June suggests forecasted growth in the aviation sector could wipe out the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions made by other sectors of the economy. The research shows that UK reduction targets will be almost impossible to meet if aviation emissions continue to grow at the predicted rate predicted by the Tyndall Centre. Friends of the Earth has now launched the Big Ask campaign calling for a law to cut carbon emissions by 3% every year.

Seat 61 is a useful website detailing how you can avoid air travel for getting to European destinations.
 

Local Development Framework

Councils are in the process of drawing up their three-year development plan for your area, which will include future transport plans. Authorities had to submit their Local Development Scheme to the regional government office by March 28th. There are some significant  core issues which need to be addressed in policy terms in the emerging Local Development Documents, including the need to promote sustainable transport, moving away from car reliance, and curbing airport expansion. You can send an email to your council via Friends of the Earth's website to let them know you want to be kept informed of the Local Development process.

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham will be drawing up and consulting on three very important documents:

1. Local Development Scheme (LDS), a timetable of when documents are drawn up.

2. Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), which lays down standards local authorities have to adhere to in who and how it consults, how information is accessed and the process of reviewing local development documents. Friends of the Earth has issued a briefing on SCI.

3. Core Strategy (and a map), which will contain the policies determining planning applications.

The Local Development Framework will be reviewed on an annual basis and revised every three years. It is vital that you feed in your thoughts and perhaps attend the public inquiry which will be held to discuss the content.

ONGOING ACTIONS

A series of maps covering the whole of London showing cycle routes and quiet roads are available from most tube stations and other locations around London, or can be ordered free of charge from Transport for London or the London Cycling Campaign, or by calling Traveline on 020 7222 1234.

Road traffic has risen by 79% since 1980. The number of vehicles on Britain's roads rose to 31.2 million in 2003, over double the number for 1973 (15.4 million), whilst the distance walked and cycled each year has been in steady decline.

London has a similar climate to the great cycling meccas of Amsterdam and Copenhagen, less annual rainfall than Rome, and Hammersmith and Fulham has the advantage of being relatively flat too! 18% of residents of the borough cycle at least once a week, one of the highest rates in London.

If you feel you need to make a particular journey by car, then see if you could share it with someone who is making the same journey. Consider joining a car-sharing scheme with colleagues or parents, or start your own.

Lobby the council to ensure that cycling and public transport are taken seriously in its policy formation. You can find out contact details for your local councillor here.