London congestion charge brought back with price rise

The congestion charge for people driving into central London will be reintroduced on Monday under the terms of a £1.6bn government bailout.  It follows a deal in which Transport for London (TfL) secured emergency funding to keep Tube and bus services going until September.

From 22 June, the congestion charge will also rise from £11.50 to £15.

Downing Street defended the changes saying it “only applied to a small area of central London”.  The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said roads in these areas “would come to a halt without it” and it was an “important tool to ensure that emissions in London remain low and support better air quality”.

TfL said the resumed congestion charge would be temporarily extended to between 07:00 and 22:00, seven days a week, from June 22.

Read the full story via the BBC News website