Today during Prime Minister's Questions, our MP Sarah Olney queried the reported plans to extend the congestion charge zone and introduce new council taxes to South West London which will cost residents £15/day to just own a car.

The extension includes Barnes whose residents are already suffering due to reduced public transport connectivity because of the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.

Sarah also pointed out that despite the Prime Minister's previous responses about Transport for London, their reserves were increasing before the start of the pandemic.

She asked: "The people of Barnes in my constituency have been cut off from public transport routes for some months now by the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.

"Can the Prime Minister confirm reports that the government is now planning to charge Barnes residents £15 a day to own a car and charge them extra council tax to pay for facilities that they cannot use, despite the fact that TfL reserves were increasing before the virus hit?"

PM Boris Johnson replied: "Well, Mr Speaker, I can confirm that Hammersmith Bridge has been closed entirely thanks to the incompetence of the current Labour Mayor of London and that Shaun Bailey, the Conservative candidate, is going to reopen it and that is the best thing possible."

Read more: Residents 'like pawns' in a game over Hammersmith Bridge

Commenting on his response, Sarah said: "This has demonstrated my worst fears, that both the repairs to Hammersmith Bridge and the bailout of TfL are being used by the Conservatives as bargaining chips to try and get Shaun Bailey elected.

"I am infuriated that the livelihoods of my constituents are being used in such a way."

"I have now written to Shaun Bailey asking him to confirm that he will indeed reopen the bridge and to confirm that the funding has been agreed and what timescale he is working to. I look forward to his response."

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