TfL suspends road congestion charges during coronavirus crisis

All London road charging schemes will be temporarily suspended from today (23 March) to help ensure supply chains are kept moving and critical workers and emergency vehicles can move around the capital during the coronavirus outbreak.

Transport for London (TfL) said the Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone and Low Emission Zone would stop operating until further notice.

However, Mayor Sadiq Khan warned that the closure was not an invitation for people to take to their cars around the capital and urged Londoners “not to leave their homes unless it is absolutely essential".

Paul Cowperthwaite, TfL's general manager of road user charging, said: "What we are seeing through this crisis is that London's critical workforce is wider than just the core emergency services.

“Emergency services workers are absolutely fundamental to our response, but supermarket workers, utilities engineers, refuse collectors, and many more, also need to be able to travel to keep the city functioning.

"This is why we have temporarily suspended road user charging in the capital."

Natalie Chapman, head of urban policy at the FTA, said: "The suspension of the Congestion Charge and the ULEZ is welcome news for our sector, charged as we are with keeping the capital stocked with the vital supplies it needs in such extraordinary circumstances.

"With unprecedented levels of demand for food, medicines and other commodities, this move will keep the supply chain stable and robust and ensure that London can remain open for business, supporting its residents, its companies and its industry."

The move follows a decision by London councils to suspend the London Lorry Control Scheme, which prevents hauliers delivering into the capital during night-time hours.

RHA CEO Richard Burnett welcomed the suspension which he said “will provide operators with greater flexibility” to ensure the delivery of medicines, foods and goods into the capital.