Khan plots to hit motorists in the capital with ‘pay per mile’ charges

SADIQ Khan was accused last night of clobbering hard-up motorists with his plans to charge them by the mile in London.

The capital’s Labour mayor wants road pricing to force those who drive petrol or diesel cars to switch to public transport, walking, cycling or electric vehicles ‘where necessary’. He said he is ‘not willing to put off action’ to hit climate targets.

Research commissioned by Mr Khan found that a 27 per cent reduction in London’s car traffic is required by 2030 to meet net-zero ambitions.

A report by City Hall said road user charging would be a ‘simple and fair scheme’ that could replace existing fees such as the Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone. But motoring groups including the AA and RAC said policies should focus on helping motorists get electric vehicles, rather than punishing those who cannot afford them.

AA president Edmund King said: ‘We need to encourage the uptake of cleaner, greener vehicles.’

The RAC’s Nicholas Lyes said: ‘These proposals would create massive financial challenges for individuals, families and businesses who run a car in London.’

The City Hall document noted that the technology to charge drivers per mile is ‘still years away from being ready’, so Mr Khan is considering policies which ‘could be ready within the next few years’.

One approach is for the Ultra Low Emission Zone, which costs £12.50 per day to enter, to cover all of London. Mr Khan is also considering charging drivers from outside London for entering the city.

But Mr Lyes added: ‘Proposals to charge vehicles to enter London is likely to impact hardest on workers such as carers, tradespeople and night-time staff for whom there is no alternative to using a vehicle.’ The Mayor and Transport for London will conduct a public consultation on the proposals.