C-charge plan for the M25
Drivers face congestion charging on the M25 under a plan that could see tolls for peak-time travel on motorways nationwide.
Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander has asked the Highways Agency to identify a suitable section of Britain's 4,800-mile motorway network for a trial scheme.
The move came as Tory leader David Cameron made his most scathing criticism yet of Ken Livingstone's congestion charge.
The M25 is seen as the prime candidate for the pilot as it has by far the worst congestion and traffic is continuing to grow rapidly.
The trial would be a forerunner to a national pricing scheme, which ministers have said they want to introduce from 2015.
All remaining parts of the M25 that have three lanes are having an extra one added and one option would be to charge for using the new lane during rush hour.
A Department of Transport study has concluded that congestion on motorways and A-roads would fall by 34 per cent if charges, which could reach £1.34 a mile were introduced. A departmental source said today: "If we are serious about congestion, we cannot ignore the problems found on motorways."
Mr Cameron railed against the Ccharge after receiving a leaflet telling him his home in Notting Hill would be included in the extended western zone.
He said that there were "greener ways" of tackling traffic in London and rounded on Mr Livingstone for wasting money and not doing enough to boost public transport.
Meanwhile, a cross-party committee of MPs will today accuse the Government of putting the long-delayed Crossrail scheme at risk. They say the refusal to include a new station at Woolwich jeopardises the £16 billion plans and could prevent them becoming law by 2008.
Supporters of the link fear the scheme could collapse in a constitutional battle between the Government and MPs who want the station.
