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from Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com)

'Help us pay to fight Ken'

May 31 2002

By Oscar Mortali, South London Press

A DETERMINED group of Kennington residents are bravely standing toe to toe with London Mayor Ken Livingstone over his controversial congestion charging plans.

The Kennington Association last week lodged an appeal to the High Court for a judicial review of the plan which they insist will "divide the community in two".

And the cost of the action - which could run into tens of thousands - is to be met by the residents themselves.

Last Friday saw the Kennington Association - featured in the South London Press last year - lodge their appeal with just half-an-hour to spare before the final deadline.

They are calling on the High Court to block the scheme which will see one of the proposed boundaries run along the mainly residential Kennington Lane.

Residents fear increased, noise, pollution and a drop in property prices as motorists drive around the boundary striving to avoid the £5 charge.

Association spokesman Professor Gordon McDougall said: "We have been pushing for the Mayor to change his mind without success since last year. The only avenue left open to us was to take legal action.

"The group is basing its appeal on Article Eight of the European Rights Convention, which stresses the citizens right to the 'peaceful enjoyment of his home'.

Westminster council has also lodged an appeal which has been fast-tracked to be dealt with before congestion charging is due to begin in February next year.

The Kennington Association is hoping for a similar speedy decision.

But the cost of the action remains a real concern and Professor McDougall added: "We do not know if we are going to be able to raise the funds but we are going to have to ask Kennington residents to dig as deep as they can."

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(posted 7971 days ago)

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