One in three wants Congestion Charge to be higher at rush hour

One in three Londoners wants to see tougher congestion charging in the capital, according to a new poll.

The YouGov survey of 1,000 Londoners found that 29 per cent wanted a new charge levied at rush hour.

Some 79 per cent said they expected congestion to get worse.

The poll for business lobby group London First is part of a study which assesses options for easing congestion and draws on international examples of successful charging regimes.

It concludes that the best solution would be a system which varied charges according to the roads and times of day with the worst congestion.

As the capital is already responsible for 20 per cent of UK congestion and its population is growing by 100,000 people a year, the report says Londoners and London government have to “accept the reality” of new charges.

London First says the alternative is ever greater congestion, more unpredictable journey times, and increased delays for deliveries.

Jo Valentine, Chief Executive of London First, warned that without radical intervention above current plans, there was risk that congestion could bring the capital to a standstill.

Baroness Valentine said: “This is bad news for London’s competitiveness and for Londoners’ overall quality of life. We need a far cleverer congestion charging regime where costs vary more based on those roads and times of day where congestion is worst.

“The sooner Londoners and London government come to terms with this reality and we start working up a solution the better.”

The report sets out five conditions for creating a new scheme:

It should be better targeted than the existing scheme.

It must demonstrate that it would cut congestion, benefit bus passengers and cyclists, and support the creation of better quality public spaces.

Those who pay the charge must see some sustained benefits in the form of more predictable and reliable journeys for people and goods.