New bid to block congestion charge

Ken Livingstone's planned congestion charge faced a fresh threat today as opponents to the scheme announced that they will lobby Government transport ministers to use special powers to block it.

Westminster council, which is against the £5-aday charge, is seeking a meeting with Transport Minister John Spellar after he said he could block the Mayor's plans if his promised public transport improvements did not come up to scratch.

Mr Spellar confirmed in a weekend interview that ministers had reserve powers to veto any scheme they considered "unworkable" when the legislation enabling the tax was drawn up.

The prospect of Mr Spellar acting as an independent judge has heartened Westminster.

Kit Malthouse, the Toryrun council's deputy leader, said: "We are seeking a meeting with the minister to find out what information he will base his decision on, and to tell him we think his view is right."

Mr Spellar would only make such a move after analysing forthcoming reports from Transport for London outlining proposed improvements to the bus, Tube and rail networks.

The Mayor's office appeared doubtful of him intervening. "The Mayor is no keener to introduce the charge without transport improvements than anyone else," said a source.

"The minister would have to think very carefully about what grounds he was going to do this on, and it would probably also be open to legal challenge."

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