West End rally fights congestion charge

The James Bond actress Samantha Bond urged Londoners yesterday to back a move to outlaw congestion charging.

Ms Bond, better known for working for the government as Miss Moneypenny than for demonstrating against it, was one of a number of opponents of the scheme who attended a rally in the West End.

Congestion charging, involving a daily £5 fee to enter central London, is due to be introduced on 17 February. Ms Bond is part of a movement hoping to raise £500,000 for a High Court challenge to prove the scheme championed by Ken Livingstone, the Mayor, breaches human rights.

The movement is supported by the London-based legal firm Class Law, which revealed that one person at the rally who wished to remain anonymous had pledged £20,000.

Stephen Alexander, of Class Law, claimed the scheme was in breach of the Human Rights Act, because the freedom to use highways was a human right and could only be modified if the due process of law was followed and everyone involved was fully consulted.

"What has been heartening is the complete cross-section of people interested in opposing this scheme," he said. "This is not a right-wing or a left-wing thing or about rich people or poor people. It's about everyone.We even had non-drivers at the meeting. They think the scheme is unjust."

A spokesman for Mr Livingstone's office responded robustly. He said: "Class Law is simply reviving old arguments put before the High Court in July 2002.

"The judge comprehensively rejected these, and in particular decided that the Mayor and Transport for London had consulted fully and properly on the charge."