Nine in 10 firms reject expansion of C-charge

Nine in 10 businesses are opposed to any westward expansion of the congestion charging zone, a survey reveals today.

Almost as many firms are opposed to plans to raise the daily charge from ?5 to ?8. The survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reveals the charge is adding to costs for one third of businesses.

Only about a quarter of firms said congestion charging had been beneficial for London.

The CBI's study of 116 key firms is published to coincide with the end of TfL's consultation on changes to scheme. The CBI called for:

Drivers currently pay ?5 extra after 10pm and those not paying before midnight on the day they enter the zone are fined ?100.

The survey found nine per cent of busineses backed the westward extension, 13 per cent backed the rise to ?8, 34 per cent said it had added to costs and 22 per cent said aspects of the scheme had been "worthwhile".

CBI director general Digby Jones said: "We made clear there should be no major changes until the economic impact was clear." However, Ian Barlow of KPMG, which helped with the survey, said the charge had led to a "positive impact" for professional and financial services using surface transport.