'Why not stop levy at 2pm?'

Mon Plaisir is a Covent Garden institution. But the charge has hit the restaurant so hard that, for the first time in 30 years, proprietor Alain Lhermitte is considering opening at weekends to recoup lost weekday business.

"It has been extremely bad for central London," said M Lhermitte. "So many people are now deciding to shop, eat out or go to the theatre in the

area where they live, rather than pay ?5 to come into central London."

M Lhermitte said theatregoers no longer came into London to eat first and takings were down by as much as 10 per cent. "The charge is meant to stop people driving in in the morning. Why not stop it

at 2pm so people can come in the afternoon?"

La Capannina in Romilly Street would once attract 40 or 50 lunchtime diners. Today owner Paolo Frattini says he is lucky to serve 20.

"Business has gone down drastically," he said. "Evenings are also quieter. I have had to lay staff off." He said drivers were avoiding the charge by dining outside the zone.