Transport for London (TfL) has opened consultation on the future operation of the city’s Congestion Charge. 

The main proposals include no charges in the evenings to support London's COVID recovery, operating between 12:00-18:00 on weekends and retaining the current charge level of £15.

According to a TfL statement, these changes will support London's culture, hospitality and night-time businesses, and ensure gains made in reducing car dependency over more than 15 years are not lost. 

The Mayor's target is for 80 per cent of trips made in the capital in 2041 to be by walking, cycling or public transport, and the target for central London is 95 per cent of trips to be made by these types of travel.

In accordance with the condition in the Government's first emergency funding agreement - required due to TfL's income being decimated by the pandemic when ridership plummeted - TfL urgently brought forward proposals to temporarily widen the scope and level of the Congestion Charge in June 2020.

The operational hours of the charge were extended to include evenings and weekends, and the charge was increased from £11.50 to £15.

Since then, the Mayor has said that the temporary charges should be reviewed to ensure a strong economic recovery in London and one that is environmentally sustainable and fair to all.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The Government insisted on the widening of the level and scope of the Congestion Charge last year as a condition of TfL's emergency funding agreement - which was only needed because of the pandemic.

“As we look to the future it's vital the charge strikes the right balance between supporting London's economic recovery and helping ensure it is a green and sustainable one.

“These proposals support the capital's culture, hospitality and night-time businesses which have struggled so much, as well as encouraging people to walk, cycle and use public transport.”