(Tue 14 Nov 06)

Ken Livingstone has announced that vehicles causing the most pollution in central London are to face increases in the congestion charge.

The daily charge for vehicles in carbon emissions band G, which includes some 4x4s, is to rise to £25 from 2009, according to reports. In 2008, the charge will be removed for cars in Bands A and B which produce the lowest emissions, Mr Livingstone said.

Cars in band G include the  Range Rover 4.4 V8 petrol, Renault Espace 2 litre petrol, and BMW X5 4.8 litre which all emit more than 225g of CO2 per kilometre and owners will be charged £25 for entering the congestion charge zone. Cars in band A include the Toyota Prius 1.5 litre petrol-electric hybrid and the smart diesel which all emit less than 120g/km

The congestion charge scheme has been running since February 2003. The tax rose from £5 to £8 a day in July.  Most cars, in band C, D and E will be unaffected and will continue to pay the £8 rate.

Mr Livingstone also announced that a 90% residents' discount given to people living within the congestion charging zone will be withdrawn for vehicles in band G.

"Most vehicles that will be charged £25, in vehicle excise duty band G, are high-priced models," Mr Livingstone said. "Those who buy them can afford to choose from pretty much the whole of the mainstream car market but have chosen to buy one of the most polluting vehicles.

"By making these changes to the congestion charging scheme we are encouraging people to take into account the impact of their choice of new car on the environment and the planet."

Paul Watters, from the AA Motoring Trust, said the new charges would hit a lot of families when the zone was extended westwards in February. "This is another attack on people carriers and larger ordinary vehicles," he said.

"Band G sweeps in a lot of family cars such as the two litre Ford Mondeo automatic and the two-litre Citroen C8 automatic, which will mean a lot of households being hit when the charge zone is expanded."

London Assembly Liberal Democrat spokesman Geoff Pope welcomed the move, saying: "Two years ago, we championed using congestion charge bands to hit the hated 'Chelsea tractors'. "They are damaging and unnecessary vehicles in a densely urbanised, 21st Century city."

Paul Smith, founder of Safe Speed said: "This move reveals that the London Congestion Charge is nothing more than a con. Ken Livingstone is clearly using his so-called congestion charge in order to impose his personal ideology on Londoners."

Although the £25 band G charge is to start in 2009, the mayor has asked Transport for London (TfL) to examine the possibilities of it being introduced before then.

CO2 And Parking Charges

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