Porsche to challenge Congestion Charge increase

Porsche GB has announced its intention to seek judicial review of Transport for London's decision to expand the controversial Congestion Charge.

Last week Mayor Ken Livingstone announced plans to extend the charge to penalise drivers of the most polluting cars when they entered central London - to the tune of £25.

Now the luxury car marque has threatened to challenge the decision in the courts - claiming the increase represents a 3,025 per cent increase for those living in central London.

At present inhabitants of the Congestion Charge zone pay just 80 pence toward the charge, but those driving vehicles producing over 226g/km and above will not receive the discount and are liable for the full charge.

"A massive congestion charge increase is quite simply unjust. Thousands of car owners driving a huge range of cars will be hit by a disproportionate tax which is clear will have a very limited effect on CO2 emissions," said Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche GB.

Porsche intends to write to the Mayor this week.

The Mayor will then have 14 days to respond to Porsche. If the Mayor fails to respond to Porsche's letter or refuses to reconsider his plans, Porsche will then formally to submit its application for judicial review at the Royal Courts of Justice.

"Not only is this rise completely unfair to many drivers, but it will also damage London based-businesses of all sizes, and successful people from across the world will start to think twice about basing themselves here if they think they are going to be used as cash cows for City Hall," continued Mr Goss.

"The proposed increase will be bad for London as a whole and will send out the signal that it is not serious about establishing itself as the best place in the world to do business."