Darren Johnson AM - Green Party Member, London Assembly (From News Shopper)

Darren Johnson AM - Green Party Member, London Assembly

in Letters

Londoners are facing high unemployment, falling real incomes, soaring rents and fares, as well as environmental problems such as dangerous air pollution and cold homes.

I want the Mayor of London to set a budget which responds to these basic concerns.

Freezing the council tax will help slightly, but Londoners travelling to work are having to pay out far more in fare rises, than they are saving in council tax.

My amendment to the Mayor's budget would bring fares down below inflation for the first time in four years and save a typical household about £40 a year.

I don't agree with the Mayor's view that we can only have lower fares if we sacrifice investment in upgrading the tube and bus system.

Rewarding people for using environmentally friendly public transport should take priority over car driving in London.

In the short term we can lower fares by raising the central London congestion charge for the most polluting gas guzzlers and setting up a new 'anti-pollution' charging zone around Heathrow airport.

This is just one of the ways in which the Mayor could improve our environment, whilst helping the poorest to cope with hard times.

Darren Johnson AM
Green Party Member, London Assembly