𝐒𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐪 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝟒𝟎%

The Mayor also announced that the daily levy – which will remain at £15 – will not apply between Christmas day and January 3, its longest ever festive break.

His aim is to “support families and visitors over the festive period” at a time when a number of train and Tube lines will be closed or disrupted by engineering work and roads are normally quieter.

Thursday’s announcement confirms plans announced by Mr Khan in July to end the longer operating hours introduced in June last year as an emergency response to the first wave of the pandemic.

It means that the charge, which had been extended to 10pm, will revert to 7am to 6pm operating hours during the week from February 21 – a week earlier than expected.

At weekends it will operate from 12 midday to 6pm at weekends and on bank holidays.

Residents living within the zone will be able to apply for a 90 per cent discount.

Mr Khan hopes the retention of the £15 levy – it had been increased from £11.50 - and charge at the weekend will prevent traffic exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

But the decision to reduce the operating hours will lose Transport for London about £60m to £70m a year in levies and penalty fines – at a time average council tax bills are set to be increased by £20 a year for three years to help ease TfL’s financial crisis.

Campaigners have previously warned that the C-charge may need to be reintroduced after 6pm if congestion increases.

Mr Khan believes the changes will support culture, hospitality and night-time businesses hit hard during the pandemic, with a 40 per cent fall in takings expected this month.

𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐓:

West End Stores have put pressure on Sadiq Khan, as 40% drop in Christmas sales puts businesses in danger… But as we are about to go into another lock down…is it too little, too late?

This has also come as a cockhanded Christmas gift, which will be welcomed by struggling Uber night-shift drivers who will not have to pay the charge, if they choose their hours carefully.