'End C-charge at 6pm'

Ken Livingstone was today urged to reduce the congestion charge's operating hours immediately to help boost the capital's night-time economy.

The Mayor has announced he will bring the charge to an end at 6pm on weekdays - 30 minutes earlier than at present - once the zone expands into west London in late 2006.

Mr Livingstone yesterday gave the green light to the extension, subject to further investigation into the plan, from late 2006. The proposed zone would be an area broadly bounded by Harrow Road, Scrubs Lane, West Cross Route, Earl's Court one-way system and Chelsea Embankment.

But critics have called on him to end the charge at 6pm immediately to boost central London theatres and restaurants, which claim to have lost trade since the congestion charge was introduced in February 2003.

Angie Bray, Conservative congestion charge spokesman on the London Assembly, said: "If he is saying this is something he now recognises would improve the operation of the charge, why is he attaching it to the extension?

"Why is he not bringing it in now to alleviate the problems we have now?"

Ms Bray also encouraged the Mayor to go further and scrap the charge in the afternoon to bring shoppers back to the West End.

A spokesman for the Mayor said:

"The proposal to stop charging at 6pm is to take account of the fact that it would take vehicles longer to travel through a larger congestion-charging zone."

If the charge remained in force until 6.30pm, it would make it difficult to reach the West End by car for curtain-up times without incurring the £5 levy. It would also rule out pretheatre meals for many visitors.

Julia Lalla-Maharajh, transport director at business organisation London First, backed a 6pm finish now. She said: "London First would like to see the Mayor making improvements sooner rather than later."

Mr Livingstone has already announced changes to the central London scheme.

These include suspending it for three days between Christmas and New Year, making it easier for NHS patients to claim refunds and providing more ways to pay the charge. Westminster council has outlined "five key questions" for the Mayor before he extends the zone into Knightsbridge, Kensington and Chelsea. They are:

How much money will it raise to invest in public transport?

What public transport improvements will be made to help those switching from their cars?

Will the £250 million contract with private operator Capita be redrafted?

How have residents and businesses been affected by the current zone?

Will the charge for four-wheeldrive vehicles be increased, as recently suggested?

Westminster deputy leader Kit Malthouse also called for the current scheme's hours to be reduced. But the Green Party's Jenny Jones urged the Mayor not to give in to protesters and "water down" the scheme. She also suggested he extend it into the East End.