Toll could end nine-to-five day

Thousands of London businesses are looking at new working patterns in an attempt to avoid congestion charges, it was revealed today.

Staff will be given the option of starting work before 7am, coming in at weekends, or working from home when Mayor Ken Livingstone's £5 levy on driving into central London begins next year.

Many firms are encouraging greater flexibility to help employees avoid transport strikes and traffic jams. But this process is expected to accelerate as firms look for ways to escape the controversial charge.

A study of 1,000 small and mediumsized companies by market research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres shows more than 30 per cent of businesses in Greater London are considering alternatives to the 9am-5pm, Monday-to-Friday routine. That rose to nearly 50 per cent among firms with offices inside the charging zone.

"The small-business community will be imaginative in ways to avoid the charge," said Stephen Alambritis of the Federation of Small Businesses. "It's inevitable that an avoidance industry will kick into place."

Internet systems manager Jeff Green said the charge would add to bad traffic as an incentive to re-organise his hours: "I'll almost certainly cut the number of times I go into the office. If I have to drive in, I'll try to do it in the evening when there's no charge."