Proposed Congestion Charge Changes
Most people are aware that London has a Congestion Charge for driving within a specified area in London. Most are also aware that many other authorities around the UK have watched London’s progress and the reality is that many other urban areas will adopt similar charging, Manchester being the most recent example where the local authorities have decided to continue towards charging. It is therefore not just pertinent to those travelling in London, but all who have to travel around larger conurbations around the UK, to take specific note with what is proposed and what happens around London as this is sure to percolate out in time.
With this in mind the announcement from Transport for London on 9th August 2007 confirms that Mayor, Ken Livingstone, intends to pursue a new CO2 emission based charge that has three charge bands and will be implemented in the present Inner London Charging Zone, covering parts of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea.
The proposed charges are
1. A zero rate for low emission cars that emit less than 120 gm per km CO2 and which also meet Euro 4 emission standards. These fall into Bands A and B for the current taxation groups.
2. The next band will affect most other vehicles, which fall into the 121 to 225 gm per km emission band, and this covers tax bands C, D and E. Band F is included where the actual vehicles emission is up to 225 gm per km, but as this band includes many vehicles that emit more than 225 gm per km that were registered before the 23rd March 2006 and so remain in band F, although the same car if registered after that date would be in Band G – the Gas Guzzler band. Cars in this eligible group and emitting up to 225 gm per km CO2 will be charged £8 per day, the same as the current congestion charge.
3. The last band includes all the cars in tax band G, and all the cars in tax band F that emit more than 225 gm per km CO2. Importantly this band also includes ALL cars registered before March 2001 (the date when CO2 emission levels were used for tax calculation) and which have engines larger then 3000cc. Cars in this group will be charged £25 per day.
In addition the proposal includes the removal of residential discount for cars that fall into group 3 above.
The profile of these changes is going to be headlined with the usual ‘Chelsea Tractor’ descriptions, but the reality is that a significant number of MGs will be caught up and as mentioned earlier, where London leads others follow!
So what MGs are affected? The obvious ones at the top of the CO2 emissions list are all MG ZT 260 V8s, which is not surprising, but then it will also include all ZT models with the 2.5 litre KV6 engine. The same also applies to the MG ZS 180 with the same engine. The big development though will be where older MGs are caught in the over 3000cc band, so of course this means all MG RV8s and MGB V8 models, so this means that if the proposal is carried through as stated pre 1973 cars with 3000cc plus engine conversions (e.g. Costello V8s), which are exempt from tax, are now to be hit with the £25 per day emission charge.
The issues surrounding emissions is one of great importance and more specifically air quality. Having needed to cut through the atmosphere with a knife in Beijing recently the consequences of doing nothing are unpalatable to say the least. There are though several additional issues here such as the almost stealthy way the charges are being proposed to affect so many mainstream cars and classics that is aimed to take them off the road.
In respect to the classic cars the justification of retaining examples of our former motor industry has been well made and is reflected in the continuance of the zero rate for cars registered of made before 1973, knowing that the numbers of these cars are very small in respect of the total number of cars registered it seems the authors of these proposals have no regard for the retention of the historic elements of the British Motor Industry or the minute impact they have on the volume of vehicle emissions. Indeed many of these cars are so well maintained they are cleaner than many newer cars below any punitive charge levels proposed, and neither apparently has any thought been given to providing any incentives to owners to add technology to their cars to meet MOT lower emission levels applicable for newer cars.
There is a consultative period for these proposals and it is clear owners and enthusiasts have their say throughout this process to ensure the classic car scene is given fair treatment.
Roger Parker