TfL suspends all road-charging in London to support supply chain

The Congestion Charge, the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London have all been suspended.

None of the charges are in operation from Monday 23 March until further notice.

As well as being a measure to support the movement of key workers Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said it was also required to support the supply chain, the effort to keep supermarkets fully stocked and the city’s continued operation.

Paul Cowperthwaite, TfL general manager of Road User Charging, said: “What we are seeing through this crisis is that London’s critical workforce is wider than just the core emergency services.

“Emergency services workers are absolutely fundamental to our response, but supermarket workers, utilities engineers, refuse collectors, and many more, also need to be able to travel to keep the city functioning. This is why we have temporarily suspended road user charging in the capital.”

The Road Haulage Association originally called for the mayor to suspend the ULEZ to allow pre-Euro 6 vehicles to deliver the capital’s goods during the coronavirus crisis and not face the scheme’s charges, which the mayor agreed to, as well as also suspending the LEZ.

Richard Burnett, RHA chief executive, said that most trucks going into London will still be LEZ and ULEZ compliant, however, the suspension will offer companies the flexibility to use other vehicles – including vans – if and when there are driver gaps as the pandemic unfolds.

Burnett added: “Keeping our supply chains resilient will be key in ensuring businesses can continue to function during the crisis.

“It’s the right thing that firms have the confidence to call in other contractors to move their goods into the capital at short notice and not worry about LEZ and ULEZ charges.”