London charge hike will be final nail in brewers' coffins
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KEN LIVINGSTONE'S plans to increase the congestion charge to £8 and expand the zone will cost beer deliveryfirms working inLondon an extra £250.000 a year, according to the Brewery Logistics Group.
The group, which includes Young'sBrewery.Exel'sTradeteam division and other major players like Guinness and Carlsberg UK, estimates thatTradeteam alone will see charges rise by 84% to £62,000. while the bill for Carlsberg UK will rise 97% to £33,350.
Group chairman Mike Bracey says: "This is the final nail in the coffin. Our members simply can't afford to absorb this extra cost. Parking tickets still equate to £500,000 a year plus internal administration costs running
between £50,000 and £60,000. The additional congestion charge will mean that for the pleasure of doing their business to help London to be the tourist centre that it is, BLG members will be paying in excess of 1800,000 per annum.
Even if the Mayor refuses to exempt CVs from the charge he should hold the rate at £5."