"Tom Barry" wrote ...
I'll make a point of not going to Kensington for my shopping, anyway.
The current scheme stays until 2010, for legal reasons, by the way.

Could be a fun couple of years; I know several 'western extension' people
who loathed the congestion charge, hated Ken, and vowed to go to prison
rather than pay, etc., etc.,

But once it happened, and they realised they got a reduction, free access to
the old zone, etc., they learned to love it. Really love it.

Even Boris' BlunderBuses won't deliver the goods now - they'll really need
that open rear platform, as they'll never reach the bus stops!
--

Andrew

"She plays the tuba.
It is the only instrument capable
of imitating a distress call."

Andrew Heenan wrote:
"Tom Barry" wrote ...
I'll make a point of not going to Kensington for my shopping, anyway.
The current scheme stays until 2010, for legal reasons, by the way.


Even Boris' BlunderBuses won't deliver the goods now - they'll really need
that open rear platform, as they'll never reach the bus stops!

I'm pretty sure the consultation was flawed, too, since there were two
sets of results announced achieved by two different methods and they're
not even close to each other on the same question (slight majority
against abolition on the second one, overwhelming support on the first one).

Boris preferred the results of the larger survey size, which I gather
was achieved by people being sufficiently concerned to write in. I've
no idea whether any consideration was made to weighting this statistically.

Actually, one council, Hammersmith and Fulham, did urge its residents to
write in and support abolition, which in itself rather biases it - I'm
not sure if the retention camp could call upon similar public resources.

I'd also be interested in whether that's considered to be an acceptable
method of consultation for the statutory hoops that now have to be gone
through.

Oh, and finally, there was a strong majority at consultation in favour
of the Cross River Tram, and look where that went, and there's no
consultation on bendy buses at all.

Tom

"Tom Barry" wrote ...
I'd also be interested in whether that's considered to be an acceptable
method of consultation for the statutory hoops that now have to be gone
through.

I don't think there's any rules; he said he'd consult - indeed, was careful
to avoid any commitment to democratic consultation (eg local referendum).
He's consulted the Evening Standard and Andrew Gilligan - what else matters?

Oh, and finally, there was a strong majority at consultation in favour of
the Cross River Tram, and look where that went, and there's no
consultation on bendy buses at all.

Perzakkerly!
Mind you, the bendy bus ban was a manifesto commitment, so for good or ill,
no consulation was ever even considered (except Evening Standard and Andrew
Gilligan, of course!).

We (not me personally) voted for Boris; and that's exactly what we've got.
I'll take the good with the bad. Trouble is, he hasn't come up with the
good, yet.
--
Andrew
seo2seo.com
sick-site-syndrome.com

"When 'Do no Evil' has been understood, then learn the harder, braver rule,
Do Good." ~ Arthur Guiterman

Western extension: Londoners have spoken and the Mayor has listened

[Please note, this is NOT the whole press release; rather than just read my
selection, follow the link below!]

'As a Mayor that keeps his promises I am instructing Transport for London to
begin work on the process of a formal consultation on the removal of the
Western Extension.

'One thing every body should be assured of is my determination to make it
easier for Londoners to get around our great city

'Transport for London is working on a series of measures aimed at easing
congestion and smoothing traffic flow, which include rephasing traffic
signals and cracking down hard on the chaos caused by badly-planned road
works.

'They are also setting up a task force with external experts to review
further ways in which traffic flows can be smoothed.



Removing the scheme
A third supported changing the way that the scheme operates.

A draft revision to the Mayor's Transport Strategy reflecting his intention
to remove the Western Extension will be the subject of a 12-week statutory
public and stakeholder consultation scheduled for summer 2009.

Following this, TfL would also need to consult the public and stakeholders
on a variation to the Congestion Charging Scheme Order to formally remove
the Western Extension.

The Western Extension cannot be removed until these statutory consultation
procedures have been concluded and the Mayor has taken into account the
views expressed in the consultations and decided whether or not to confirm
his decision.

The earliest that the extension could be removed is spring 2010.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/medi...tre/10590.aspx