Originally Posted by
The Guardian
Porsche is threatening a legal challenge to London mayor Ken Livingstone's plans to demand a £25 congestion charge from drivers of high powered sports cars and 4x4s entering the capital.
The German luxury car company's British division today cited an "unjust" increase as it announced plans to make an application for judicial review on Livingstone's plans to hike the congestion charge for some cars to £25 from £8 now. The rise for those living inside the zone is to £25 from 80pa day.
Porsche labelled the proposed increase for certain cars "disproportionate" and argued the rise will do nothing to achieve the stated aim of decreasing emissions in central London.
"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 Cars GB.
"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," he added.
Porsche said it will be writing to Livingstone this week. The mayor will then have 14 days to respond to the carmaker.
"If the mayor fails to respond to Porsche's letter or refuses to reconsider his plans, Porsche intends formally to submit its application for judicial review at the Royal Courts of Justice," the company said in a statement.
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