Congestion charging and privatising the Tube are supposed to be a remedy for the parlous state of London's transport. But solutions are not easy to come by, writes BRIAN COLEMAN, the Conservative GLA member for Barnet and Camden:

Shock, horror. I can exclusively reveal in this newspaper that I agree on a fundamental issue of policy with the Labour Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Alan Williams. Both Alan and I totally oppose Mayor Livingstone's plans for congestion charging as outlined in the transport strategy published last Tuesday.

This weighty document appears to me less of a strategy and more of a wish list' containing plans for all sorts of weird and wonderful schemes and precious little indication of how they will be funded. The vast majority reinforce Ken's reputation as a zone 1 Mayor' caring little about the suburbs.

However, be in no doubt, Ken's plans for congestion charging have nothing to do with trying to reduce traffic in central London and everything to do with attempting to achieve an independent source of revenue. Not for nothing is it already being nicknamed “the Poll Tax on wheels”.

Now whereas congestion charging may well turn Barnet into a giant car park, have a thought for my constituents in Camden where a version of the Berlin Wall will split the borough in half at the Euston Road. Indeed some of my residents will have to pay £5 just for the privilege of driving round the block.

Now all this is due to be implemented by 2003 and Ken can claim a democratic mandate for such a scheme and indeed he has.

However, the other part of the promise in his manifesto was improvements in public transport and I am sure the commuters of Barnet need no reminding that these have not been forthcoming.

Which brings me on to the most sensational court case of the year not, I hasten to add, the trial of Lord Archer, but the High Court case of Ken Livingstone (and most of London) versus HM Government over the issue of PPP for the Underground.

I have no idea what the outcome will be except bonuses all round for certain firms of lawyers, but whatever happens it will be Londoners who lose out as any investment in the Tube will be further delayed.

I also strongly suspect that in the near future the ebullient American Bob Kiley, brought over from New York by Livingstone to run the Tube but has so far been able to run nothing more than the public carriage office and a few bus routes, will call it a day and return to the USA to enjoy a comfortable retirement. Who can blame him?

Perhaps Councillor Williams should use his influence within the Labour Party to persuade the Government to compromise with Ken Livingstone and do all the people of Barnet a favour.