Ken Livingstone may have won the right to impose his controversial congestion charges from 2003 but the plan does not meet with universal approval. Reporter MELANIE GOMM takes a look ...

COMMUTERS will be forced to pay £5 to drive into central London after Mayor Ken Livingstone won his High Court battle to introduce congestion charges.

A bid by a residents' association in Kennington and Westminster Council to stop the scheme failed when High Court judge, Mr Justice Maurice Kay, judged it lawful last Wednesday.

The controversial charging will now commence on February 17, next year, with drivers charged £5 a day to drive within the central zone between 7am and 6.30pm on weekdays.

All vehicle registration numbers will be entered into a computer system when the fee is paid, in advance or on the day, by telephone, post, internet or via local shops.

Cameras stationed at entry points across the capital will then check registration numbers against the list stored by computer. Failure to pay for a ticket could mean an £80 charge.

GLA member for Bexley and Bromley Bob Neill reacted angrily to the news: "This is bad for London and it's a thoroughly bad scheme which will bring no benefits to the people of Bexley and Bromley."

"Charging will be bad for business and bad for residents for all the reasons advocated by Westminster Council and The Kennington Association."

"I doubt the scheme will actually start in 2003 as the mayor expects. Ken Livingstone has misled the public about the ease with which the scheme will be implemented and its benefits.

"The mayor may have won a victory in the courts but he hasn't won the war.

"It's now my job and the residents of Bexley and Bromley to get rid of this scheme by voting to get rid of the mayor in the mayoral elections in 2004."

For more detailed information about charges and discounts available, please see the Transport for London website www.tfl.gov.uk/streets