The Government’s funding package for Transport for London will leave Barnet families thousands of pounds a year worse off according to London Assembly Candidate for Barnet & Camden, Cllr Anne Clarke. The Government are demanding an end to free travel for the young and old, a tax rise and the extension of the £15 a day congestion charge zone to the North and South Circular.
A family or individual that must travel into the extended congestion charge zone daily will have to pay an extra £75 a week or £3750 for 50 weeks.
Cllr Clarke said:
“This deal stinks, it will destroy jobs and prosperity in this city, wrecking chances for the young and opportunities for those seeking work. An extension of the £15 a day congestion charge zone will hit workers and families hard and destroy local businesses.
“The old and the young in Barnet have dealt with huge cuts to social care budgets, cuts to youth services and school funding, now their free travel, paid for by Londoners after Boris Johnson agreed to scrap TfL’s £700 million grant in 2015, is under threat.
“To add to all this misery, the Government want a hike in taxes, leaving all Londoners worse off during a cost of living crisis. Their war on London is vindictive and cruel.
“It is despicable how Johnson’s Government has played politics with a revenue crisis solely caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sadiq Khan reduced the TfL deficit he inherited from Mayor Johnson by 71%. Punishing cities like London and Manchester shows how unfit the Prime Minister is for office.”
Ends.
Notes:
- Details of the Government’s TfL bailout can be found here: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tfl-bailout-row-sadiq-khan-slams-jenrick-london-a4572417.html
For more information contact: cllr.a.clarke@barnet.gov.uk