Forum Topic

A Congestion Charge for Ealing?

Having just read a few reports on the SEC meeting held a few weeks ago, I'm slightly worried that Bassam Mahfouz, the Labour candidate in Ealing and Acton, appears to want to impose a congestion charge on Ealing to pay for planned improvements to EB station? This seems a completely crazy thing to suggest, can anyone enlighten me further on this??

Thomas Edwards ● 6048d21 Comments

We certainly need improvements to EB station, and not just tinkering at the edges.The present administration does not even wish to look at potential costs. Seems odd when EB is one of the most heavily used stations outside the centre and our population is predicted to soar by about 30,000 people in the next couple of decades. So they don't know about figures any more than Mr Mahfouz. Floating the idea of an extra charge at this stage without knowing figures and sources of funding is a non starter. The future of this station needs to be settled before any building projects are authorised, otherwise the potential of the transport hub could be badly jeopardised.At least Mr Mahfouz is showing interest in its future. It would be crazy not to.

George Knox ● 6048d

Thank you George.I am afraid Hugo; you must have been reading the drivel that Cllr Phil Taylor has been writing on his blog (not the first time). At the meeting, and let me set the records straight, I was the only one who raised the issue of the costs of the current proposals for a transport interchange as set out by SEC (it is suggested these are £40-£50m). These figures have now been banded about by the likes of Taylor as if he had shown any interest in the subject before or done any of the homework.I then stated that the council should lead on designing possible (and affordable!) options for a transport interchange at the station. We can then seek funding for such a scheme through planning gain from any development at Arcadia and through the Mayor of London.Important points to note:1) We must lead on this, it's in the heart of our borough and we are the only players who have enough of an interest and opportunity to listen to local people to be able to do this properly.2) Funding can be found from the above two sources - Glenkerrin had offered to pay for the previous proposed interchange and there is no reason why, should they submit a new application, they could not make a reasonable contribution to a properly costed project.  Also, we should not allow Boris to redistribute transport spending away from Ealing’s projects and services to other parts of London as he has so far done.  He claimed to be a Mayor for the whole of Ealing, he claims to have seen the problems at EB station, so he should foot some of the bill for one of the major new Crossrail stations to have a proper transport interchange.3) Finally, the idea for a “Congestion Charge” came from the floor of the meeting.  I simply pointed out that it was possible to introduce one, should the council wish to do so but that I felt it was not the right option for Ealing.  I am afraid that Cllr Taylor should perhaps clean his ears out more often, because I am sure this is the reason he has written what he has and it wasn’t some petty attempt to twist the truth beyond all recognition.The council has so far laid back and waited for the plans to come forward, rather that put forward a vision, worked on with local residents for what we want on the town centre.  A vision that planners and developers can work to.  I appreciate we probably can't get everything we want, but if we don't set out a credible stall, we can expect to continue to get developer proposals that don't meet those needs.Cllr Bassam MahfouzLabour Parliamentary Candidate for Ealing Central & Actonwww.bassam4ealingacton.com

Bassam Mahfouz ● 6048d

Thank you for getting on to this. Make sure this is a proposal not an aspiration!!! This is one thing that sticks out as something Ealing needs and whilst all are waiting on other to deliver then nothing will happen. no doubt with some strategy developers could not only deliver the money for this but could also benefit Ealing itself.

Peter Chadburn ● 6048d

Thank you Bassam.It's good to hear that your party is interested in the future of Ealing's transport woes.On the question of funding, I do think that some very imaginative thinking will be required to establish as wide a range of sources as possible, and I hope that you will factor this into future considerations.From comments so far, it does seem that Mr Taylor wants to wash his hands of this issue.

George Knox ● 6048d

Bassam,You are the one twisting the truth.  I fully accept that you did not make a considered proposal to raise a congestion charge for Ealing.  On the other hand in response to an American woman who speculated about charging users of the station in some way to pay for improvements you pointed out that Labour legislation allowed local authorities to raise congestion charges.  You quickly back-tracked realising your mistake but don't try to re-write history.  On my blog I said:"Quite rightly Labour transport spokesman Bassam Mahfouz raised the £40-50 million cost of what SEC is proposing. Some time was spent discussing ideas of how this kind of money could be raised. One American lady wanted to tax users of the station. Bassam himself proposed and quickly withdrew the idea of using a local congestion charge."I was there taking written notes so maybe lay off the insults and treat the public with a bit of respect. 

Phil Taylor ● 6048d

What a typical response.Bassam says"We must lead on this, it's in the heart of our borough and we are the only players who have enough of an interest and opportunity to listen to local people to be able to do this properly". So,so right.This is the kind of key respect that the public want and was why the hall was so packed out that some could only stand. If you want Bassam's respect, then put your own house in order, and to do that you have to stop avoiding the issue. If you wish to continue denying us leadership then the conclusion has to be that the Tory administration is a spent force. We just can't go on like this.The American lady's point needs to be included in the investigations, and not everyone one in the hall was opposed to her suggestion.

George Knox ● 6048d

Would that be the same Phil Taylor who claimed in 2008 that the Oyster bus fare was £1.50 when it was actually 90p?  I do hope you Ealing chaps haven't let him get into a position where being accurate about things is important.  That would be a mistake.

Thomas Barry ● 6047d

Don't you just love election time?

James de Vivenot ● 6047d

Don't you just love election time?

James de Vivenot ● 6047d

Is there an election coming up? Let us see some solid proposals with less than 2 months to go. Can Bassam and a fresher Labour crew offer any different. we will wait and see.

Peter Chadburn ● 6047d

Congratulations - that eliminates you from my list of possible candidates to vote for.I don't take kindly to people that engage in childish personal attacks.  Thank you for making it clear that you are that kind of person and therefore not deserving of my vote.

Tony Colliver ● 6045d

Tony,which candidate do you mean?

Peter Chadburn ● 6045d

The one who's message I responded to - Bassam Mahfouz.(Granted, this message system does not make it easy to spot the threading of the messages unfortunately.)

Tony Colliver ● 6045d

Tony,It's not a personal attack... Cllr Taylor has taken to twisting what was said at the meeting beyond recognition - I am simply setting the record straight.  Everyone I know who has seen his comments about me on his blog say how they've thought Cllr Taylor's blog comments about me (over the past four years) appear to be over the top, unduly derogatory and disrespectful.  I don't mind if he's personal, what I do mind is when he claims I've said something that I haven't.What makes this most funny is that Cllr Taylor is the founder of Ealing's first 'de facto' congestion charge for Ealing Broadway with his introduction of the CCTV enforcement camera outside the station catching out many an honest driver.  Perhaps he can remind us how much has been raised from this camera.best wishes,Bassam

Bassam Mahfouz ● 6045d

It is amazing at the station to think of the hoops people have to go through to drop or pick up from there. For me Bassam, I would vote for you if I was in your area. I have listened to you at meetings and you know what it is to use Public Transport and you are a real local. I might think that Labour nationally has let us down over the Iraq lies and for me the PFI and too close links to the big corporations are not what i want from a labour party. But also for me it is the intergity of individuals that count. That is why as a compromise I supported Steve Pound despite my disgust at certain things the govt did. So keep honest and make it your job to sort out Ealing Broadway. At least as a candidate you will know what services run through the station you are standing on!! unlike some others. It is good that Councillor Taylor at times engages with the public on these forums so that is to his credit to be here. But sometimes on some debates when we need a comment he can be rather silent. Ideally a few independants such as Arthur and Eric would do wonders for Ealing. How about if Labour get into power they make these two fine chaps Mayor at different points so that at least it will bring additional common sense to the administration!

Peter Chadburn ● 6045d

It is amazing at the station to think of the hoops people have to go through to drop or pick up from there. For me Bassam, I would vote for you if I was in your area. I have listened to you at meetings and you know what it is to use Public Transport and you are a real local. I might think that Labour nationally has let us down over the Iraq lies and for me the PFI and too close links to the big corporations are not what i want from a labour party. But also for me it is the intergity of individuals that count. That is why as a compromise I supported Steve Pound despite my disgust at certain things the govt did. So keep honest and make it your job to sort out Ealing Broadway. At least as a candidate you will know what services run through the station you are standing on!! unlike some others. It is good that Councillor Taylor at times engages with the public on these forums so that is to his credit to be here. But sometimes on some debates when we need a comment he can be rather silent. Ideally a few independants such as Arthur and Eric would do wonders for Ealing. How about if Labour get into power they make these two fine chaps Mayor at different points so that at least it will bring additional common sense to the administration!

Peter Chadburn ● 6045d

Just coming back to check on my original question. Where do attacks on Cllr Taylor come into this? I got my information from a letter written to the Ealing Gazette, from someone who was at the meeting. I've just got this week's copy, and have read Bassam's self-congratulatory letter about himself, so I am puzzled as to why he has used this simple issue to personally attack a fellow councillor...

Thomas Edwards ● 6044d

Depends on the reports you have been reading and which posts you have read written by PT. PT does not need others to give an opinion on his views as you have concerning Bassam. PT is on record about blowing his own trumpet.I think you realise PT has his own website. Could just about be said that it's a little partial!

George Knox ● 6044d

Dear BassamThe one quality you possess (or at least the only one that is ever evident) is chutzpah.  You and your colleagues have been happy to quote Phil’s blog out of context at Council meetings to make cheap points; so please remove the onion you are holding close to your eyes and spare everyone the guff about your four years of hurt. You dish it out, you take it like a man. Phil was not responsible for introducing CCTV enforcement outside Ealing Broadway. It happened when I was the relevant Cabinet member, in June 2007 – about a month after I’d taken on the portfolio. Council officers put the camera in and switched it on, because that’s the way they had always done things under the Labour administration – all completely legal. We changed the way CCTV enforcement was introduced; any new location had to have signage and warning notices issued to any vehicles caught in contravention for the first two weeks of enforcement. It was not our most glorious hour, but we learnt our lesson and took action to make sure this technically correct, but less than open, enforcement process did not happen again. How about comparing that with Labour’s record: a parking enforcement contract that gave the contractor a financial incentive to issue more tickets (and thus lots more tickets issued than currently); and on one occasion using a public safety CCTV camera on the Uxbridge Rd for traffic enforcement (something we do not allow).The camera raised I think a couple of £100Ks over the first few months of operation but this has declined to a minimal amount. The enforcement statistics for January 2010 (see http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/transport_and_streets/parking/parking_tickets_and_fines/pcns_issued/index.html) show 9 PCNs issued around all sides of Haven Green, 4 of these through CCTV enforcement. No money for a £40M Integrated Transport Hub there.If you think that CCTV enforcement is such a bad idea outside the station, then Labour could make a manifesto commitment to remove the camera. But I suspect you’re more likely to just spout warm and meaningless words about having a ‘vision’ for the camera and ‘working’ with everyone about its future.

Vlod Barchuk ● 6044d

Someone who quotes PT's blog out of context! You are having a laugh aren't you? How often does he ever write about issues which ARE in context? Don't tell me that you believe all that he says.Can't argue about the rest as that is in house stuff -though credit to you in the case of removing incentives ( which I trust have not and will not be re-introduced). What does your manifesto say?But ITH costs. Where did you get £40M from? Being a leading guy in your kind of business and so with access to the proper sources, perhaps you could publish for us the expected payback period for an ITH?

George Knox ● 6044d

Hugo, are you referring to the letter from the paid-up Tory activist in the Gazette?  It is strange how the only two people who seemed to have selective hearing at the meeting were both paid up members of the Conservative Party, whilst Eric Leach states that I (and others) 'poopooed' the idea.  Perhaps my statement at the meeting that "I categorically state that I would not introduce a Congestion Charge in Ealing" was not clear enough for some people.  It did seem far more popular amongst the crowd then it did on the top table and it should be said that the three main parties all stated they would not introduce one.  All I really raised at the meeting that it was possible, given current legislation, for a party to introduce one - should they wish to do so.  To repeat, I certainly don't believe it is the right solution for Ealing and have stated in my previous posts how I believe it could be paid for. I want Ealing to be a destination that attracts visitors and businesses, Crossrail and improvements at the station will mean serious opportunities to draw people in from right across London - we need to be ready to set the vision for Destination Ealing now and get it right.  George, the figure comes from SEC themselves.

Bassam Mahfouz ● 6043d