A NEW round of fare increases announced by London Mayor Boris Johnson has increased pressure for a re-zoning of the area’s tube stations.

The Central line stations of South Woodford, Snaresbrook, Wanstead and Redbridge all sit in Zone Four because they are more than eight miles from Oxford Circus.

Campaigners have pointed out that many stations, including Woolwich Dockyard, Beckton, and Manor Park are all further than eight miles out yet sit in zone three, and that the latest fare rises will encourage more traffic on the roads.

Justin McArdle, of Overton Drive, uses the Central line to commute from Wanstead to his business in Shoreditch.

He said: “I think it should be changed, because other places such as Galleons Reach and East Ham are further away from the centre of London than we are and they’re zone three rather than zone four.

“Also the fact that Oxford Circus is used as the centre point of London is a bit out of date. It may have been relevant 20 years ago but the centre of the London has shifted East, with the growth of the City and Docklands for example.”

“If you think they can close Wanstead station for ten weeks without a replacement bus service, which was a major inconvenience, then they can keep getting away with it.”

The cost of a trip to central London from stations in zone four will increase by 20p to £2.40 in January for Oyster card users, or £3.10 during the rush hour.

Commuters buying a seven-day ticket pay £6.60 more for travelling into zone four than if they were using zone three, while monthly tickets cost £25.40 more.

In the wake of the latest announcement, a Fair Zones campaign on Facebook calling for rezoning of the stations has now attracted 120 members.

Joe Moorgate, 25, of Hermon Hill, said: “It’s unfair. I know that Transport for London might be worried about losing a bit of money, but if more people use the tube because it was a bit cheaper, wouldn’t they make more in the long run?”