In London as the congestion charge is beng prepared to be expanded to include West London there are rumours that a pollution charge is being introduced because charge revenues will be decreased as there will be more exempions due to the increase in car owning residents living within the zone and the creation of a route to travel through London without a congestion charge. The pollution charge would target 4x4's and people carriers yet there maybe a significant number of these car owners who have second vehicles and unless the pollution charge is a twenty four hour charge they may well switch vehicles after the the congestion charge time zone ends. However, I am not against a pollution charge and think it a good idea instead I would like this working with a congestion charge that charges drivers coming into the congestion charge zone as well as travelling outwards from within the zone. At present the congestion charge is eight pounds to travel into the zone so the congestion charge I would propose would be four pounds to travel into the zone and four pounds to travel away from zone. Such a charge would reduce the amount of traffic travelling outwards from areas within the zone and so have an overall effect on congestion both within the congestion charge zone and those in outer London areas. The main question marks would be can the present state of London public transport cope with increases in volumes of
passengers and can the present congestion charge technology cope with the two-way traffic.