C-charge is here but we're not giving in

The £123 million western extension came into force at 7am but remained at the centre of controversy over whether it would reduce jams.

Mayor Ken Livingstone hailed the "successful start" of the new zone. But motoring organisations claimed it had received an "easy ride" as the halfterm holiday reduced the number of cars on the roads.

The launch did not go entirely smoothly. Last night Transport for London's website - chosen by a third of motorists as their preferred payment method - was unable to process transactions for three hours from 7pm. TfL said it was because of "planned maintenance".

Mr Livingstone said: "The morning rush hour has seen a successful start to the extension. Traffic is flowing freely in the extended zone, on its boundaries and the through route. The zone was, until now, one of the most congested areas in the UK, and first indications are that traffic levels have been reduced as expected."

He added: "Congestion charging in London has already cut the number of cars in the central area by 70,000 a day. London is again taking the lead in tackling congestion and emissions. Cities all over the world are looking to London's example."

More than 150 people demonstrated against the new zone, marching through streets between Sloane Square and Knightsbridge. One of the march's organisers, Gordon Taylor of the West London Residents' Association said: "There were lots of placards. People were chanting, 'Stop harming business' and 'Livingstone must go.'

"There was a mixture of local traders and residents and it went very well. We are going to keep on protesting, even if what it takes is a new mayor to scrap the scheme.

"The charge might have come in but we are not giving up; this extension was overwhelmingly opposed during the Mayor's consultation but he still went ahead."

The London Chamber of Commerce demanded an independent inquiry on whether the zone was needed, and called the scheme "flawed" and an "inflexible barrier to trade".

Its chief executive Colin Stanbridge said: " Problems for companies in the original zone should have been addressed before the new extension came into force. Many of our members have faced great difficulties and loss of trade."

The chamber wants a charge-free or discounted window during the day, allowing businesses to make vital deliveries, plus independent monitoring.

It said its research showed 96 per cent of west London businesses believed the Mayor ignored results of public consultations into the extension; and three quarters of London firms would refuse to pay the charge for staff travelling to work.

Most employees who drive into the extended zone will have to pay about £1,800 a year. That will be on top of any parking charges.

The extension, covering Kensington, Chelsea, Bayswater, Notting Hill, Pimlico and Belgravia, is projected to make between £25 million to £40 million profit in its first year.

Today a spokesman for travel data firm Trafficlink said: "It is all running smoothly ... It has been slightly slower than usual in two spots: Chelsea Embankment and Battersea."

Thousands of motorists may have been deterred by unfamiliarity with the scheme, as happened when the original congestion charge was launched in central London in 2003.

The AA warned motorists that the free route through the new, bigger zone was "far harder" to follow than the boundary road around the old one. Paul Watters, its head of roads and transport policy, said: "It is going to be far easier to get lost on this scheme, which will lead to more people being fined, so they should take extra care today."

Aidan Burley, cabinet member for the environment on Hammersmith and Fulham council, said: "It may well look clear on the main routes such as Earl's Court Road today, but we are very concerned about the amount of traffic that will doubtless be forced on to other, less suitable roads.

"We do not want traffic forced on to unsuitable roads near schools, for instance, just because of the charge."

Transport for London was unable to say how many motorists had paid the charge and entered the new zone today. A spokesman said: "It has all gone very smoothly with no problems. There are no hold-ups on the roads. It is working fine."