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Background: The UK Government imposed privatisation for upgrading the London Underground railway (the Tube) in 2003. A £400m shortfall between the contractor's costs and the budget allocated has just been announced. "Boris" is the new Conservative Mayor of London elected May 2008. Letter published in London's Evening Standard newspaper, Friday 18 December 2009: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear editor, I rarely agree with Boris, but he is right when he says any additional costs for upgrading the Tube must not fall on London farepayers and taxpayers. Instead as landowners are the hidden beneficiaries of good urban transport, ministers should follow Ireland's recent example and introduce an annual Land Value Tax on all land, to fund transport improvements and cut taxes on work and incomes that damage our economy. Dave Wetzel vice-chair, Transport for London, 2000-8. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season's Greetings, Dave Dave Wetzel "Transforming Communities". Sustainable Transport Policies ▪ Public Finance with Social Inclusion ▪ Affordable Housing ▪ Economic Land Policies with Justice. Tel: 0208 568 9004 Intl:+44 208 568 9004 Mobile/Cellphone: 07715 32 29 26 Intl: +44 7715 32 29 26 e-mail: [log in to unmask] 40 Adelaide Terrace. Great West Road. Brentford. LONDON. TW8 9PQ. UK Web: www.LabourLand.org