France U-turn on London-style congestion charges

PARIS, Feb 27 (AFP) – France’s ruling party on Friday withdrew an amendement to a parliamentary bill that could have seen towns and cities introducing a traffic congestion charge on motorists similar to the system operational in London.

The MP behind the intitaive, Christian Philip, removed the text after the government said it was “not in favour” of the measure and the left-wing opposition complained it would prove a burden to surburban commuters.

Philip’s amendment, added to a bill outlining powers for local authorities, would have allowed urban centres of more than 100,000 people to charge motorists a fee for entering their limits.

London’s mayor, Ken Livingstone, started an automated daytime congestion charge for the British capital a year ago to reduce traffic on its central streets.

Since then, there have been 40 percent fewer traffic jams as more and more commuters opt for public transport, according to municipal officials.

© AFP

                                                              Subject: France news