by Alison Bowler

Created on: December 07, 2008   Last Updated: December 10, 2009

As the new millennium dawned, the traffic in Central London was rapidly hitting grid-lock. In 2000 Ken Livingstone, the newly elected Mayor of London, started an inquiry into solutions to control London's traffic congestion problem. In February 2002 a report was made starting the process for the introduction of the Central London Congestion Charge zone. Vehicles entering or moving within the zone would be subject to a charge.

This zone came into force in February 2003. The original zone covered the City of London, parts of the City of Westminster and part of Southwark to the south of the River Thames. From Monday to Friday between 07:00 and 18:00 motor vehicles entering the zone are subject to a charge, failure to pay the charge results in a penalty notice being levied. The original £5 charge was increased to £8 in 2005 and the zone was extended westwards into Kensington and Chelsea in February 2007.

Roads entering the zone are clearly marked with sign posts and a large red "C" painted on the road surface. Vehicles entering and leaving the zone are recorded by roadside cameras while a fleet of mobile CCTV vans record movement of vehicles within the zone. There is no charge levied during the weekends or over Bank holidays. There is usually no charge levied between Christmas Day and the New Year but this is confirmed annually by Transport For London (Tfl).

* Charges and Penalties

The basic charge for a car entering or moving within the zone is £8 per day. If the charge is not paid until the next day this rises to £10. Failure to pay the charge after twenty four hours leads to a penalty notice being issued to the licensed vehicle owner. This fine of £120 is reduced to £60 if it is paid within fourteen days.

* Paying the charge

There are a number of different methods of paying the charge on the day it is incurred. The vehicles' registration number is required.

- At shops which have pay-point machines, which can be found within the zone and the surrounding area. These shops have the yellow and blue PP sign clearly visible.

- By phone to 0845 900 1234.

- Paying over the Internet via www.cclondon.com.

- At the payment machines to be found in car parks within the zone.

- SMS messaging. To use this method prior registration with Fast-Track is required. Registration is available from www.cclondon.com

If paying the day after the charge has been incurred then payment can only be made by phone or the Internet.

* Paying in advance.

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