London, February 19:

The area covered by Lo-ndon’s congestion char-ge doubled first thing today to the anger of many residents and businesses, although the city’s mayor insisted it would cut emissions and traffic jams.

The eight pound ($15) daily fee for drivers entering the city has been expanded westwards to cover exclusive neighbourhoods such as Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea. London Mayor says the move will cut traffic levels in the area by up to 15 per cent and deliver impro-vements to air quality as well as improving the reliability of buses. But the chairman of the West London Residents’ Association, labelled the move ‘completely unnecessary’. “Only about five per cent of the roads in the area are congested,” he said. “It’s like a surgeon cutting someone open from head to toe when keyhole surgery would do.” The London Chamber of Commerce has reported that many businesses within the original zone have seen trade drop off.