Boris Johnson told: give people a say now on western zone of C-charge

Hammersmith & Fulham claimed the toll had been a "body blow" for businesses and had caused parking jams.

Deputy leader and cabinet member for the environment, Nicholas Botterill, said residents in the borough, which is on the periphery of the extended zone, would continue to suffer until Transport for London scrapped it.

The Mayor, who promised a referendum on the issue during his election campaign, has said he is working with TfL on a timetable "as a matter of urgency". It is widely expected the poll will take place in the next few months.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "The Mayor has always said he is committed to looking again at the western extension and we're actively working towards an early date."

Former mayor Ken Livingstone's original consultation on the extended zone, which covers Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill and Pimlico, showed that 62 per cent were opposed - a result likely to be repeated this time.

Hammersmith & Fulham claims those on the periphery of the zone are hardest hit because, unlike those inside it, they are not eligible for a discount on the £8-a-day charge.

Mr Botterill said: "The western extension has caused parking gridlock and outrage in west London.

"It has been a body blow for local business and this must be the end of the road for this failed project. We are calling on TfL to scrap the extension now - before more damage is done to local traders.

"We always questioned whether the extension was more about making money than reducing congestion.

"The people who are paying are on the periphery of the zone and they will continue to suffer until this invisible toll barrier is removed."

An investigation by the council showed that small businesses, such as estate agencies, dry cleaners and florists, are losing thousands of pounds a year to make trips of less than a mile.

Nadine Kline of Green Florist in Shepherd's Bush Road said: "The congestion charge extension really has affected our delivery service and in many cases it is actually cheaper for us to send our deliveries by taxi rather than pay the £8 charge ourselves."

Lana Kova, lettings manager at Shepherd's Bush estate agents Tauntons, said: "Our office is based outside the congestion charge zone and unfortunately we have had to give up some of our properties inside the zone in places such as Holland Park and Bayswater.

"We are a small independent estate agent and can't afford to pay the £8 congestion charge just to show properties to customers.

"It is such a shame because we have had to give up nice properties in areas that we would have liked to expand into."

'TRADE IS DOWN 50 PER CENT'

SHEPHERD'S BUSH market falls just outside the extended charging zone but traders say its impact has halved their business.

Khwaja Abdullah, owner of Angel Delight, a children's clothes shop in the market which is close to Goldhawk Road station, said shoppers were avoiding the area.

"Business is terrible, really, really bad," he said. "When the central London charge came in it was not too bad but when it was extended that was it for us. This is London's oldest street market and I don't know how we can keep going.

"I would say that trade is down 50 per cent since the extension began. That makes things very hard.

"Parking is another big problem - there are hardly any car-parking spaces and it costs £1.60 an hour. People don't want to come. We voted for Boris because we wanted a change - now we will have to see what he does."