Congestion charge hits shopper numbers
Central London footfall down 5.4 per cent in first two weeks
March 3 2003
The number of shoppers visiting key retailers in the congestion charge zone of London over the first two weeks of its operation has decreased by 5.4 per cent.
The relatively small decline will be of concern to retailers who had feared a fall in trade from the ambitious charging scheme implemented by London mayor Ken Livingstone, and likely to be copied by other major cities if successful.
According to the FootFall Index the number of shoppers in the congestion charge zone was down an average of 5.4 per cent compared to the same two weeks in 2002 in relative terms.
Shopper numbers in the Greater London area outside the congestion charging zone decreased by 0.3 per cent in the same two weeks last year. Both these sets of figures have been factored to take account of the heightened security issues and the closure of the Central Line, said Footfall, as well as reduced consumer confidence present from the start of February.
FootFall marketing manager David Smyth said: “We have now seen the effect of the congestion charge for two whole weeks. As we can factor out a number of issues at play at the moment, we can see that the congestion charge has had some effect on shopper numbers within the central zone.
“What is slightly more surprising is that the overall effect on shopper numbers in the area of London just outside the congestion charging zone has been somewhat subdued. The average for these two weeks is down overall and signifies that the area surrounding the congestion charge zone has not benefited from increased shopper numbers as was initially thought.”
