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RESOURCES This part of our web site provides information on the main issues that concern many motorists. It provides an information resource that contains the hard facts and data that support our policies and which you can use to counter the anti-car rhetoric that is so common in the public media. Much of the content is based on past articles in our Newsletters and don’t forget that all our published material can be searched using the Site Search function. The material is organised under the main headings given below (click on the title to go to the resource page): ​ The last link routes you to an archive of our past newsletters. Traffic and Congestion Parking and Traffic Offences Environment Road Safety Speed Humps ​ Useful Links Campaigns Newsletters

MTS UPDATES You can register your support for the campaign against the Mayor’s Transport Strategy including Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and the ULEZ and receive more information and news updates by completing the form below. Please refer to the Contact page if you have any questions. Note that our Privacy Policy covers what we will do with personal information submitted on the form below. Our Privacy Policy is defined in our Legal Terms and Conditions .

DARTFORD CROSSING TOLLS CAMPAIGN This page covers the campaign against tolls on the Dartford Thames River Crossing and the use of a “free-flow” toll system relying solely on cameras. Although the opposition was unsuccessful, such systems are likely to be extended to other bridges/tunnels and problems with non-payment (including evasion by foreign drivers) persist. ​ Important note: if you have come to this page because you wish to pay the fee, please go here for details of how to pay the charge: www.gov.uk/dart-charge . But you may care to read why we opposed the charge and the payment system below. In January 2013 a press release was issued on this subject which contained the following statements: ​ Government to Raise £7bn from the Dartford Crossing The Highways Agency is likely to raise a net £7 billion for Government coffers from road users over 25 years by the introduction of “free-flow” charging at the Dartford Crossing. Even after the reduction in journey times which is a potential benefit to road users, the net cost to them is at least £5.5 billion over the same period. ​ That ignores the inconvenience that will be caused to road users by having to pay the charge, the high risk of unknowingly incurring a £35 penalty charge by forgetting to pay and the general hassle involved in using such a system (the consultation document suggests over 15,000 such events per day of “non-compliance”, i.e. penalty charges needing to be issued). If the toll booths were simply removed, to reduce the congestion they cause, then the benefits to road users would be real instead of imaginary. ​ This proposal is backed up by a consultation document which is grossly misleading in the financial analysis and implications of the proposals. It also suggests that the tolls are required to pay for more river crossings when the net revenue being raised would pay for a new crossing in as little as two years. ​ We suggest that this proposal is simply another tax raising measure from the Government and has nothing to do with improving the road system or reducing congestion as claimed. ​ We encourage all road users to oppose this measure which may set a precedent for other road charging schemes (which the Government clearly has in mind). ​ More Information Note that the outcome of the new system was as expected in that an enormous number of people are now fined for not paying the toll simply because they do not know how to, are not aware they have to pay, or simply forget. ​ It has reduced congestion at the crossing to some extent, but not as much as one might have hoped. ​ Back to Campaigns

CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MAYOR'S TRANSPORT STRATEGY London Mayor’s Transport Strategy and the ULEZ - A Blatant Attack on Motorists - Make Sure You Object In 2016 Sadiq Khan was elected Mayor of London on a manifesto pledging to tackle congestion through harmless-sounding measures like encouraging car clubs and managing road works. He also promised to maintain the Congestion Charge at its current level. He would not have got elected if he had come out with blatantly anti-motorist measures. However, in his Mayor's Transport Strategy (MTS), his implementation of Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) and support for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) he has done precisely that. With the Covid-19 epidemic we are now seeing emergency measures taken to close roads under the euphemistic titles of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, Mini-Holllands and Healthy Neighbourhoods in many London boroughs. These have been supported by central Government also with funding coming from them and TfL. But there is very strong opposition from local residents because of the massive inconvenience caused with higher traffic congestion, longer journey times and difficulties for people who cannot cycle or walk far. Such closures are all part of the MTS, and are promoted by Transport for London (TfL). See this web page for more information on LTNs: London-Road-Closures Road closures such as those in Lewisham - see photo above and this link to our local campaign: Lewisham , are mainly supported by those who wish to stop usage of vehicles altogether - no more cars, delivery vans, or people providing local services. The MTS plans looked for "new ways of paying for road use", hinting at pay-per-mile road pricing. This could see the Congestion Charge extended across Greater London, with local boroughs asked to use it as a blunt traffic reduction measure. Alternatively, they could be asked to bring in “Workplace Parking Levies” - effectively a tax on going to work. The Mayor’s ULEZ schemes are simply a way to raise taxes on vehicle users justified by claims about a public health crisis from air pollution that are simply false. There is no public health crisis and the ULEZ charges will not make a major impact on air pollution. Britain's drivers pay five times over to use the roads. Yet the Mayor feels that Londoners “pay too little”, without giving any figures to support this. He alleges that public transport fare payers subsidise motorists which is simply wrong – the reverse is the case as public transport is massively subsidised out of public taxation while motorists pay more than the costs of maintaining the roads. It is particularly worrying that the Mayor wants to take over collection of VED (“road tax”) and set the rates which would provide another way for the Mayor to extract money from car drivers on top of congestion charging and the ULEZ. He seeks to discourage car ownership, using a reduction in the availability of private parking and kerb side parking spaces with discriminatory parking charges against some vehicles. Even Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs – minicabs) come under attack with proposals to limit their numbers and increase their costs by dropping their exemption from the congestion charge. He proposes reallocating road space away from drivers, even though the reduction in space has been a key factor in increasing congestion. He even hints at car parking at stations being made less convenient or spaces being removed. In summary, the Mayor makes it plain that he intends to reduce car use in favour of public transport, cycling and walking by penalising motorists and making it more expensive for you to own and drive a car. The private motorist could become a vanishing species in London if the Mayor has his way, or your costs for driving will skyrocket. These proposals give the Mayor the ability to build a financial empire and dictate the lives of Londoners much more extensively than previously. The MTS is yet another missed opportunity to develop an integrated transport strategy with an improved road network in London. It is not too late to tell the Mayor what you think and get him to change his mind. Use this web page to send a message to the Mayor stating you object to the Mayor's Transport Strategy and the ULEZ. Or send a letter addressed to: Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London using this address: City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1ZE - just mention the Mayor's Transport Strategy or ULEZ and why you are objecting. MAKE SURE YOU OBJECT Please also register your support for our campaign and for further news on the subject by clicking on this link: MTS-Updates The Ultra Low Emission Zone The ULEZ is a key part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy. It will mean millions of Londoners being charged £12.50 per day to use a vehicle, or force them to buy a new one. Go to this web page for more information on that and how it is being used to generate enormous new taxes: Environment This is a very good article by James Hockney on why the ULEZ is unnecessary: Hockney-Article If you have any questions on this issue, contact Roger Lawson - see the Contact page. We also need volunteers to help with this campaign. If you can assist in any way, please call 020-8295-0378 or use the Contact page to send an email. More Information Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS): https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/our-vision-transport/mayors-transport-strategy-2018 Our responses to the MTS consultation were given in this document: MTS-Responses Some of the comments received from the public on the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and ULEZ are present on this web page: MTS-Comments ​ ​ Back to Campaigns ​ ​