For both commuters and leisure travellers across the Beckenham Parliamentary Constituency, travelling back into Central London after lockdown is a major concern.

The Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has radically increased the cost and operating hours of the so-called “Congestion Charge” so that driving to London in Covid safety is prohibitively expensive.  Car drivers must pay £15 per day if they drive into London before 10 pm at night, seven days a week.  Even exempt Blue Badge holders have to apply specially with their documents in advance and pay a £10 “registration” charge.

Conservative Councillors have been looking at local SouthEastern train services where carriages are beginning to fill up. Conservative Councillor for Kelsey and Eden Park, Christine Harris (pictured) said: “Wearing a mask is compulsory and passengers are doing their best to spread out along the length of the train before it pulls in.  However it is only a matter of time before any kind of Covid-19 distancing becomes impossible”.

From Monday 6 July, trains on the Hayes line increased from two to four trains per hour while the Orpington-Victoria and Catford Loop lines both remain at two trains per hour off peak. To claim compensation, your train must have been running 15 or more minutes late.