Latest news with #forLondon
BBC News
10-04-2025
- BBC News
Sawtry car cloning victim got fines from across Essex and London
A 24-year-old car cloning victim has told how he ended up dreading the morning post after fines demanding thousands of pounds started to pour through his Eathan Cooper received his first fine last summer for a bus lane violation in Essex while on a trip to Madrid, in then, Mr Cooper, who works in sales, has wrongly received dozens of other penalties for parking, speeding and driving through bus for London (TfL) said it had cancelled the penalties after confirming Mr Cooper had been a victim of car cloning. What is car cloning? Car cloning involves criminals stealing or copying another car's registration plates, often choosing plates from a similar looking vehicleThe scam involves criminals using another person's registration plates and running up fines and penalties which then land on their unsuspecting victims, who only realise there is an issue when the fines start arrivingThe Met Police urges people who suspect their vehicle registration has been cloned to report itThe Met says once reported, those affected can then contact the organisation that issued the fine, explain the vehicle has been cloned, that police have been informed, request cancellation and send supporting evidence if available Mr Cooper, who lives in Sawtry near Huntingdon, said he started to dread the morning post after the fines started arriving at his is sharing his story in the wake of a BBC investigation which revealed a 64% surge in car cloning in London over a three year the letters were all addressed to him, and related to a car with his vehicle registration, all of the penalties were issued for incidents in places he had not been to."I was in Madrid when my younger brother first called me to say a letter had come through for me," Mr Cooper said. "He opened it up and it was a bus lane ticket."The ticket was issued for an alleged traffic violation during the middle of the night in Essex, more than an hour away from his home."We couldn't understand what had happened," said Mr Cooper, whose his car was parked at home in Sawtry over 70 miles away at the fines kept coming in for alleged contraventions across London and of the fines relate to a black BMW that looks exactly the same as his on automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and has the same vehicle registration. Mr Cooper said he has had six TfL fines, more than six bus lane fines as well as multiple parking charges and speeding Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) said it was working with the National Police Chiefs' Council and other government departments to improve identification and enforcement of number-plate crime. Mr Cooper said proving his innocence had become all-consuming for both him and his has had to go to court and, he said, buy a £300 private vehicle registration to avoid further fines. "The police advised that the quickest way to get rid of a number plate would be to purchase a private number plate and then report it to the DVLA, which we did," he said. "Other companies, including the police, accepted our evidence." His battle with TfL began in August 2024."I sent them CCTV images of my car being at my workplace, hotel booking confirmations, groceries that I had bought in Scotland at the time, and they rejected it all and said it wasn't significant evidence," he said. "I called TfL and said I had a letter from the Metropolitain Police confirming there's another car out there using my number plate, and they wouldn't accept it as new evidence because they had already denied my claim of appeal," Mr Cooper a last ditch attempt to avoid being taken to court by TfL after it rejected his appeal, Mr Cooper went to Peterborough Magistrates Court to make a declaration court he had six documents signed by legal professionals at a cost of £30 a the BBC contacted TfL, the organisation apologized to Mr Cooper and accepted that his vehicle had been cloned."We're sorry that Mr Cooper has been a victim of vehicle cloning," a TfL spokesperson said."Unfortunately, as we did not receive the evidence of cloning needed to support the representation made, the case progressed to an enforcement agent and warrants were issued in line with this."Having reviewed the case, we are satisfied that it is a cloned vehicle and have cancelled the penalties."
BBC News
29-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Superloop: TfL proposes new bus route in east London
A consultation has been launched on a proposed new leg of the Superloop bus service in east planned new route, named SL12, would connect Rainham, Ferry Lane and Gants Hill via for London (TfL) said the service would enhance north-south links and improve access to industry and business districts in the south of consultation will run until 23 May. The 85 mile (138km) long Superloop network, which launched in 2023, is a network of express bus routes designed to provide improve journey times between locations such as town centres, hospitals, schools and transport interchanges. The proposed new route would improve public transport for parts of east London not currently on the rail network, according to would connect to the existing SL2 route, the London Underground at Gants Hill, and the Elizabeth line and Overground at are currently nine Superloop routes in operation, with another one - the SL4 connecting Canary Wharf to Grove Park - scheduled to launch on 7 April, to coincide with the opening of the Silvertown Hobbs, TfL's director of public transport service planning, highlighted the "much-needed demand" for these routes, saying that "buses are still the most affordable and green way to travel around the capital".He added that the additional service would "better connect the local community to the rest of London".Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, said: "We are pleased to be working with TfL on a proposed SL12 Superloop route in the borough, something our residents really need and want."
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Transport for London launches travel announcer competition
If you live in, or have been to, London, you'll know the famous 'Mind the gap' announcement very an iconic part of travelling on the London Underground, and now some young travel fans could be in with the chance of being the next generation of for London (TfL) has launched a competition asking children aged 5-16 what their favourite way of getting around the city is and why, to be in with a chance of recording a message to play at a London station. For example, they could enjoy taking the train to see their family, or to their favourite could be about any method of travel around the capital: bus, river services, cycle hire, Tram depot, IFS Cloud Cable Car, Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line or DLR station, or coach staff of each service will choose 25 winners, who will then record their special winners will also get a tour related to their entry, so could get given behind the scenes access to tram stops, tube lines and train stations. It's to celebrate TfL's 25th anniversary, and the organisation has a whole load of other events planned, such as having lots of buskers perform at Liverpool Street transport commissioner, Andy Lord, called the competition "a fantastic opportunity for superfans to make their mark and share their stories with millions of people across the capital." Did you know? The Tube turned 160 years old in 2023Roughly four million people use the Tube every dayThe bus is London's oldest form of public transportLondon bus wheels were the inspiration for the rounded TfL logoThe Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a network of trains without drivers
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Travel announcements to be recorded by young transport fans
Young fans of London's trains, buses and cycleways could hear their own voice making travel announcements across the for London (TfL) is running a competition for children aged between five and 16, in which they are asked to explain why they particularly like a way of getting suggests examples of the London Overground being a favourite way of going to see grandparents, a bus route to a football match, or a cycleway used by the family on a relaxing will choose 25 entrants to record special PA announcements and see behind the scenes of the city's transport operation. Winners will be chosen by the staff of each service, and will record their own personalised 25th anniversary message, which will be played at a London will also experience a tour related to their entry, such as round a bus depot, seeing what goes on at cycle hire hubs, or a Tube, tram or railway contest is part of TfL's 25-year anniversary celebrations, which also have included a special line-up of buskers at Liverpool Street station. London's transport commissioner, Andy Lord, called the competition "a fantastic opportunity for super-fans to make their mark and share their stories with millions of people across the capital."Further details are available on the TfL Travel for Life website.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Silvertown tunnel opens on 7 April and Blackwall tolls also start
In under a month, tolls will be introduced for drivers at the new Silvertown Tunnel and the existing Blackwall Tunnel in east London. For car drivers it will cost £8 a day in peak. These are huge changes to London's transport network and awareness seems to be low. The new highly controversial Silvertown Tunnel opens on 7 April. Critics have dubbed the crossing a huge polluting white elephant that will do nothing to cut congestion and pollution with little or no business say it will reduce congestion on the old, existing Blackwall Tunnel and improve resilience on the crossing that closes 700 times a year. It will also provide more cross river bus routes as well as a bus that can carry now with just three weeks to its opening, it is the subject of much rancour and debate. The Silvertown Tunnel is 1.4km (just under one mile) long and stretches from Silvertown in Newham to the Greenwich Peninsula. It is within the Ulez Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan reviewed the scheme when he came into office. Mr Khan gave the tunnel the go-ahead, funded with a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) against future earnings. The cost was £ for London (TfL) will pay back £100m a year through the toll revenue. Liam Davis organised a petition against the tolls which now has 47,500 signatures. He said: "There remains both a sense of outrage and an air of resignation that tolls will commence on both tunnels but most opposition political parties have not adequately voiced their constituents' anger and frustration, either in Parliament or London Assembly."The 7th of April will be a watershed moment in many people's lives who have dedicated their working careers to roles, pupils or patients and colleagues they enjoy on the opposite side of the River Thames." 'More reliable' TfL said the Silvertown Tunnel "will help manage air pollution and make journeys faster and more reliable, with journeys expected to be up to 20 minutes quicker at peak times". A TfL spokesperson added: "It will also support economic growth through reduced queuing on the roads around the river crossings, and allow TfL to increase the number of buses able to cross the river in this area from six to 21 buses an hour in each direction during the busiest times - all of which will be zero emission at the tailpipe and free for the first year." 'Huge polluting white elephant' But this scheme has been dogged with controversy since the beginning with many local residents, schools and campaigners opposing it. TfL admits the construction of the Silvertown increases congestion and pollution but its solution is to introduce tolls to control the traffic. Dominic Leggett from Stop Silvertown Coalition said: "Londoners need to know that the infrastructure increases traffic and it increases pollution."He says the business case does not stack up."What happens is the Silvertown Tunnel makes things worse and the Blackwall Tunnel toll makes things better - adding those things together you get a little reduction in congestion."He said they should have considered the environmental and economic impact of tolling Blackwall Tunnel compared to tolling Blackwall and building Silvertown Tunnel. "If they did that they'd see the outcomes are a lot worse by building the Silvertown Tunnel. "So effectively the Silvertown Tunnel is a huge polluting white elephant." The mayor has tried to lessen the impact of the tolls with concessions and discounts for low-income residents in some parts of are also lower off-peak rates for those who register for the TfL Autopay will apply from 06:00 - 22:00, seven days a week in both directions. There will be free bus journeys on three cross-river routes that serve Newham, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich (Route 108, 129 and SL4) - all of which will be zero-emission. They will be free for at least one the number of buses using the tunnels per hour has been cut from 37 to addition, cross-river journeys on the DLR will also be refunded for at least one year. Cyclists can also use these DLR services during off-peak is also a bus every 12 minutes that cyclists will be able to put their bikes on. The Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan told me recently: "We mustn't pretend that the situation in that part of London is acceptable. It isn't. "There is only one river crossing there - the Blackwall Tunnel made in the Victorian times that's built on a bend to stop horses bolting. "It closes on average 600 times a year. Every five-minute closure leads to a three-mile tailback. "That means the one bus that does cross the river is the most unreliable bus in London. It leads to not just congestion but pollution."Our solution is a second tunnel, two lanes reserved for zero emission buses. "Or you can use the DLR for free for at least a year. If they have a bike they can jump on a bus. "We are going to monitor the air quality and congestion and my prediction is you'll see improvements and a better quality of life for people in south-east London." Indeed, the Silvertown Tunnel does have a bus lane but large HGVs will also be able to use the moment big HGVs can't use the northbound Blackwall Tunnel due to height say it will just attract more HGVs to the area and around 20,000 extra vehicles a day will use the also say the Blackwall approach roads are already saturated so if there is an incident at Blackwall the tailbacks could quickly block the approach to the Silvertown Tunnel, negating any resident Patrick Ives said: "Congestion is a concern but we don't know how it will play out. "We have new distribution centres that are unlet at the moment."They're going to require lorry access, the road infrastructure has not been improved."He added that as the tunnel will be free at night more lorries could use it, creating more overnight congestion on local Tearle from Stop the Silvertown Pollution and Traffic echoed this added: "What concerns me is if they don't have the modelling and the monitoring to look at the data what will happen if they reduce or remove the tolls? "I think this is public injustice and it's going to affect the health in Greenwich and Newham." David Rowe is from TfL and told BBC London that Silvertown was "absolutely value for money". "If you just look at the journey time savings, it's over £900m worth of savings. You add that reliability benefits you go up to £1.2bn. So there's huge benefits."This is all about how do we create those opportunities in that part of London."He added that Silvertown would create more economic growth, something not possible solely with the Blackwall crossing as it closed transport will also improve as there will be more bus services, he said. Will the tolls be permanent? According to legal advice obtained by campaigners, there is nothing to stop future mayors from changing the toll, reducing it or even getting rid of it altogether. It also doesn't seem to be clear what the various concessions will do to traffic levels. Dominic Leggett says removing the tolls would make everyone worse off."There is huge political resistance to the toll on Blackwall which is the only thing that is protecting residents from all the pollution and congestion that Silvertown causes. "So it's quite likely that the next mayoral candidate will either reduce or remove the toll or just not increase it fast enough to deal with the increasing congestion and then everyone is worse off." A TfL spokesperson said: "TfL's extensive development work has shown the new crossing, user charge and cross-river bus network will help cut congestion, support sustainable growth of new homes and jobs, and deliver an overall improvement in air quality."We are committed to delivering an overall improvement in air quality due to reduced traffic delays and congestion as a result of this scheme. "We began a comprehensive programme of Silvertown specific NO2 monitoring in 2020 to understand baseline conditions. This monitoring will continue for a minimum of three years post the tunnel opening."
