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Viewpoints Congestion Charging: One Year On in London Chi
Viewpoints Congestion Charging: One Year On in London Chi | Congestion Charging: One Year On in London Chi |
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Where once was hustle and bustle is now waiting and wandering. It is a Thursday early afternoon. China China, a restaurant situated at the heart of London Chinatown, has majority of its seats empty. “Before it was not so bad as this,” said the head waiter. When asked about the influences that might have led to bad business, he cited congestion charging. “It lasts too long and covers too big an area,” he said. London Chinatown, right inside the congestion charging zone, has suffered through the past year with reduced business, lots of grudges and a growing urge to counter-act. Situated in the West End, London Chinatown comprises of not only Chinese restaurants and supermarkets, but is thriving with a variety of businesses including travel agents, hairdressers, newsagents, solicitors, accountants, pharmacies and traditional Chinese clinics. All businesses report losses since the introduction of the congestion charging one year ago. Restaurants and supermarkets have suffered the most, especially the ones less favourably located or less prestigious. Many report as much as a 20-40% reduction in sales. “While the £5 congestion charge itself is a bit more than reasonable, the £40 penalty charge is absolutely too intimidating,” said the manager of Yang Cheng restaurant who did not give her name. The people who used to drop into Chinatown by car for shopping and dining in the daytime are no longer coming so regularly. When they do come, they usually travel by public transport or on foot and thus shop considerably less. Businesses like hairdressers, travel agents, pharmacies and clinics, which rely on regular customers, have fared slightly better. But many also report to have experienced a change in their weekly business pattern as more customers choose to come on weekends when the congestion charge is not in effect. “We now have most of our business squeezed into Saturday and Sunday,” said Ms Grace Chen, the owner of Elegant hair and beauty studio. The rest of the staff are chatting away to themselves in the dimly lit room. On this Thursday afternoon, there is only one customer who just walked in. It is admitted, though, the introduction of congestion charging coincided with a range of incidents affecting London Chinatown: the heightened national instability associated with the war in Iraq, the outbreak of SARS and the gun crime in Chinatown itself. Therefore the extent to which congestion charging, as opposed to other factors, has been responsible for reduced business is hard to estimate. But Ms Christine Yau, the Vice President of the London Chinatown Chinese Association as well as the Chairman of the Chinese Community Centre, believes that congestion charging is a major factor. “Having talked to lots of people,” she said, “It is quite evident that the congestion charging has affected Chinatown business. With the impact of those other factors starting to wane, business has picked up but never fully recovered.” London Chinatown is not an area devoted to businesses and tourists alone, but also a meeting place for the Chinese community. The Congregational Church and the Chinese Community Centre have been the main players in forging the community life. While the latter one reports no attendance loss since most of its members are the elderly and have senior citizen travel pass, the Congregational Church has experienced a couple of problems since the congestion charging started. Mr Zhang Chun-quan, the priest of the Church, said that he had to cancel the daily prayer meeting starting at 7:00 pm. He said although the congestion charging stops at 6:30 pm, members find it hard to get to the Church from outside the charging zone in just half an hour. He and his assistant also find it harder to pay visit to their members. When asked about whether they are planning any counter-action, Ms Christine Yau said that the LCCA, on behalf of London Chinatown, has tried lobbying Greater London Authorities as well as Westminster City Council to either reduce business rate in Chinatown or to cut the congestion charging time, but to little effect so far. Nonetheless, the LCCA has worked out a half-price parking scheme with the Westminster City Council. The scheme offers customers half-price parking vouchers through joined business outlets. As the current £4 an hour parking is another major deterrent to drive-in customers, business leaders hope the schemme can serve as a reward. Ms Yau said that the LCCA is also considering joining the Totally London campaign which is a major tourism recovery project targeting Londoners, people from the rest of the UK and Europe and is funded by the Mayor's London Development Agency. “If we join,” Ms Yau said, “our logo would be Totally London and Totally Chinatown.” Direct benefits for customers would be meal vouchers to be found in the Evening Standard newspaper. But not all Chinatown people are so innovative and resourcefull as business leaders such as Ms Yau. When asked about whether they are doing anything against the impact of congestion charging, most said they wish they could but has no idea where to start. Now it is approaching 7 pm. There are a lot more people turning up. The Chinatown seems to have suddenly shaken off the daytime depression and have become much more noisy and colorful. But who knows what again awaits for tomorrow? About the Congestion Charging The congestion charge is a £5 daily charge for driving or parking a vehicle on public roads within the central London congestion charging zone between 7:00 am and 6:30 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding weekends and public holidays. For more information, visit www.cclondon.com or call 0845 900 1234. |
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