Livingstone considers tripling congestion charge for 4x4s

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Cities across the country were watching carefully as London Mayor Ken Livingstone announced consultation into higher charges for vehicles "that make the biggest contribution to global warming".

Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester and Cambridge are all considering their own congestion schemes in the wake of London's charge first introduced in 2003.

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4x4 drivers could pay more than three times the current £8 a day congestion charge

Under the London proposals owners of 4x4s - dubbed "Chelsea tractors" - could pay more than three times the current £8 a day congestion charge.

And they could also lose their entitlement to the residents' discount - currently worth 90 per cent.

That would mean a driver using a large car inside the zone would pay £6,500 a year.

At the other end of the scale, the least polluting vehicles would get a 100 per cent discount and not pay any congestion charge at all.

Mr Livingstone explained: "By proposing these changes to the congestion charging scheme, we are encouraging people to take into account the impact on the environment of their choice of car.

"The highest CO2 emitting cars - like some of the so-called Chelsea tractors, high-powered sports cars and luxury executive cars - can produce twice as many carbon dioxide emissions as the kind of car driven by the average Londoner."

According to a poll conducted by Mori for the mayor, 64 per cent of Londoners think the most polluting cars - which account for 8 per cent of registered vehicles in the capital - should pay a higher congestion charge.

The consultation exercise by Transport for London will be ready to report by the end of October.

Under the proposals, the vehicles that could pay £25 a day would be those in vehicle excise duty (VED) Band G and equivalent vehicles (above 225g of CO2 per kilometre), as well as those registered pre-March 2001 with engines larger than 3,000cc.