THE £5 congestion charge remains just as effective in reducing congestion in Central London as it was two years ago, according to official figures that undermine the case for raising the toll to £8.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, will impose a 60 per cent increase on July 4 despite a promise to freeze the charge for a decade. Mr Livingstone claimed that the increase was necessary to stop congestion from rising again as more motorists became willing to pay £5.

But the Transport for London (TfL) annual report on the scheme reveals today that congestion remains 30 per cent below the level before the charge was introduced in February 2003. The number of cars and lorries entering the charge zone continued to decline last year compared with the first year of the scheme. The report concludes that the scheme has continued to meet the most optimistic forecasts for reducing congestion. “These reductions continue to be towards the top end of TfL’ s range of expectation before the introduction of the scheme.”

Mr Livingstone admitted that 75 per cent of respondents to his public consultation had opposed the rise.

The scheme made a profit of £97 million last year, up from £80 million in the first year. The profits “have been spent largely on improved bus services within London”, the report said. Mr Livingstone also needs extra revenue to cover the costs of extending the charge zone westwards to Earls Court from 2007.

TfL officials are unhappy with Mr Livingstone’s decision to increase the charge. They fear the lack of justification for it could deter other cities from copying London.

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