Congestion charge

Drivers in London will be hit by an £8 congestion charge from this summer.

The 60 per cent increase from the current £5-a-day rate was confirmed by Mayor Ken Livingstone today.

The new levy, which may start as soon as July, could raise an extra £50 million to reinvest in public transport, on top of the current £79 million-a-year revenue.

But it is certain to trigger outrage from motorists and businesses, particularly those already suffering the impact of the original charge.

Stakeholder Response: London Retail Consortium

A spokesman for the LRC said: "Despite overwhelming opposition to this, the Mayor has ignored the voice of business. Increasing the charge has little to do with reducing congestion, and more to do with trying to make the weak business case for a western extension financially viable. The current scheme has already surpassed the congestion reduction target set out at its inception; so further reductions are unwarranted.