THE Conservative Party has expressed fears about the Government's intention to charge motorists to drive into the centre of London, claiming revenue-raising fees could be too low to reduce traffic congestion. Tories who staged a protest on Waterloo Bridge also warned that a clause in the Greater London Authority Bill provides the Government with the opportunity to raise a motoring tax 'through the back door'.

Clause 200 provides for the Secretary of State to raise income through charges for the 'keeping or use of motor vehicles on roads' in the area covered by the authority.

Richard Ottaway, MP for Croydon South and Tory spokesman on London who was at Waterloo Bridge said: 'A pilot scheme in Leicester showed that unless people are charged £6 per trip they wouldn't stop driving. If the Government wants to deter people it would have to charge more, about £8.'

He believes the charge may be as low as £2, not enough to deter drivers, but a lucrative revenue-raiser for the Treasury. A spokesman for the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions confirmed the Government was committed to 'taking forward' the issue of London congestion charges. The final say on charging levels and introduction date would be left to the Greater London Authority's elected mayor.