BUSINESSES in London are calling for the rapid introduction of congestion charging, which would raise an estimated £200 million a year in revenue - but have a minimal impact on traffic levels. The call comes in a report produced by London First, which says, following election of May 4 next year, the new London Mayor must make a commitment to introduce charging within the 'first 100 days' of taking office'

The new Mayor must then introduce a paper-based toll system by the end of 2002, which would see commuting car and van drivers pay £5 a day to get into the city. London First's report, 'Transport for London: An Agenda for Action', also sets out a series of measures businesses can be working on now which would help reduce traffic levels and have a beneficial environmental impact.

They include: implementation of green travel plans; exploit use of information technology to reduce the number of delivery and service trips; work with London First to create an integrated system, including 'partnerships' with taxi firms and the provision of secure cycle parks; co-operate with London boroughs on clearing bottlenecks in the road system. At the launch of the report, London First chairman Lord Sheppard said: 'One of the priorities in the first 100 days of the mayor taking office must be to take immediate, visible action, clear to the electorate, the traveller and the investor, demonstrating that for relatively small amounts of money we will get improvements.'