Congestion charging

Opinions vary on the London congestion charge, a year old last week. Communters and the national media have been generaly supportive, won over by reduced traffic levels and better publich transport. But retailers have suffered, and the hauliers who fuel the capitals economy have given the scheme, now likely to be widened, a firm thumbs-down.
Most FTA members have had to absorb the charge, with only 37% managing to pass on the costs to their customers, yet report that nearly 70% of journeys in the charging zone are no faster.
DHL boss John Hogan told last weeks FTA freight summit the company is making no more daily deliveries than it could before, and – an outcome no-one foresaw – its parking fines have gone up 92% as transgressions are more vigorously punished.
A clear case here, surely for exempting goods vehicles. Commercial deliveries cant take the bus.