Editing London congestion charge (section)

=== Planning and preparation ===
In 1995, the London Congestion Research Programme concluded that the city's economy would benefit from a congestion charge scheme,<ref>{{Cite book |title=The London Congestion Research Programme | year=1995 |publisher=HMSO | isbn=978-0-11-551755-6 |author=[[Her Majesty's Stationery Office]]}}</ref> the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 required local authorities to study and reduce traffic volumes<ref>{{cite web |title=Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 Chapter 54| year=1997 |publisher=HMSO |author=[[Her Majesty's Stationery Office]] |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970054_en_1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608151738/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970054_en_1 |archive-date=8 June 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and any future London mayors were given the power to introduce "Road user charging" by the [[Greater London Authority Act 1999]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2000/london_mayor/534814.stm |title=What does the mayor get to do? |date=16 May 2000 |work=BBC News |access-date=26 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418182318/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2000/london_mayor/534814.stm |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In his manifesto for the [[2000 London mayoral election|2000 London Mayoral election]], [[Ken Livingstone]] had proposed to introduce a £5 charge for vehicles entering central London.<ref name="guardian20060807">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2000/apr/20/londonmayor.politics |title=Blair accuses Livingstone of £5 car toll |work=The Guardian |date=7 August 2006 |access-date=26 May 2007 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418183308/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2000/apr/20/londonmayor.politics |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following his victory, the Mayor made a draft order and requested a report from TfL, which summarised the reasons for introducing the scheme.<ref name="tflprereport">{{cite web |title=Report to the Mayor of London |work=The Greater London (Central Zone): Congestion Charging Order 2001 |date=February 2002 |publisher=Transport for London |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Report_to_the_MayorcChapters_1-16.pdf |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228180825/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Report_to_the_MayorcChapters_1-16.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 28 February 2008}}</ref> The scheme was to be introduced to reduce congestion in the centre of the capital following the ''Draft Transport Strategy'' of January 2001 which had highlighted the importance that the Mayor placed on tackling this issue.<ref name="tflprereport" /> The charge was to be part of a series of measures to improve the transport system in London and was to combined with public transport improvements and increased enforcement of parking and traffic regulations. The report stated that the scheme was expected to be the most effective in reducing through traffic, reducing congestion both within and outside the zone, improving the speed of buses and the quality of life in central London.<ref name="tflprereport" /> It was stated that improved traffic flows would make London more attractive to business investment.<ref name="tflprereport" /> Substantial net revenues were anticipated, which were to be invested in London's transport system.<ref name="tflprereport" /> It also states that 90% of those who responded to a [[Public consultation|consultation]] on the scheme, viewed reducing traffic congestion in central London as 'important'.<ref name="tflprereport" />

In July 2002, [[Westminster City Council]] launched a legal challenge against the plans, arguing that they would increase pollution and were a breach of human rights of residents on the boundary of the zone.<ref name="bbc20020715">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2128482.stm |title=Congestion charges face legal challenge |work=BBC News |date=15 July 2002 |access-date=26 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418182600/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2128482.stm |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] rejected the claim.<ref name="scotsman20020801">{{Cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/livingstone-wins-road-toll-battle-1-615051 |title=Livingstone wins road toll battle |first=Alison |last=Hardie |work=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press plc |date=1 August 2002 |access-date=6 January 2008 |location=Edinburgh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418185028/http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/livingstone-wins-road-toll-battle-1-615051 |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[London Ambulance Service]] (LAS) anticipated increased volumes of traffic around the edge of the zone and an increase in demand within the zone, that might both adversely affect clinical outcomes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/publications/areport/LAS%20Annual%20Report%202001_02.pdf |title=Annual Report 2002-3 |publisher=London Ambulance Service |access-date=22 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228180759/http://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/publications/areport/LAS%20Annual%20Report%202001_02.pdf |archive-date = 28 February 2008}}</ref>

Before the charge's introduction, there were fears of a very chaotic few days as people got used to the new situation. Indeed, [[Ken Livingstone]], then [[Mayor of London]] and key proponent of the charge, himself predicted a "difficult few days"<ref name="indfirst">{{Cite news |first=Matthew |last=Beard |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/livingstone-predicts-difficult-few-days-as-congestion-charge-begins-597903.html |title=Livingstone predicts 'difficult few days' as congestion charge begins |work=The Independent |date=17 February 2003  |access-date=9 April 2006 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713210733/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/livingstone-predicts-difficult-few-days-as-congestion-charge-begins-597903.html |archive-date=13 July 2010}}</ref> and a "bloody day".<ref name="bbcfirstday">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2772583.stm |title=Congestion charge cuts traffic levels |work=BBC News   |date=18 February 2003 |access-date=26 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418182755/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2772583.stm |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On introduction, the scheme was the largest ever undertaken by a capital city.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2770721.stm |title=Smooth start for congestion charge |work=BBC News |date=18 February 2003 |access-date=26 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418184038/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2770721.stm |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>