Calls to lift congestion charge and let Brits use royal parks as car parks during train strikes

DRIVERS should be able to leave their cars in Hyde Park and avoid the congestion charge during next week’s strikes, the Minister for London said today.

Paul Scully urged Sadiq Khan to scrap the £15 daily fee to make it cheaper for workers to drive into the capital while the trains are stopped.

He also said he has had talks about turning the royal parks into parking bays, although it would be up to the local council.

Brits are braced for torturous commutes next week as thousands of national rail and Tube workers walk out.

Network Rail has warned half of its routes will be closed during the action on June 21, 23 and 25 and fear the travel chaos will last the whole week.

Downing St has told firms to be flexible and let people work from home, although many will be forced to turn up in person.

Mr Scully told LBC: “If they do go ahead, then in London the Mayor lifts the congestion charge and stops non-essential roadworks on strike days to make it easier for people to go about their business again.” 

He added that letting people park for free in the royal parks “something I’ve discussed with other ministers” but was a matter for the councils.

Ministers have told militant union bosses to step back from the brink and get round the table with rail bosses to stop the strikes.

Mr Scully said the union chiefs are simply shooting themselves in the foot as the strikes could see less passengers on the railways in future.

He said: “We are at a point where we generally get people back into work but it’s fragile – if you just have any excuse to stop people travelling, it really does affect the fare box and the financial viability of the rail services and we don’t want to risk rail jobs.”