Survey of construction firms finds 85% believe vehicles should deliver to London sites without 拢5 daily fee.
Contractors and product manufacturers have expressed overwhelming agreement with 好色先生TV's struggle to win the industry an exemption from London's congestion charge.

好色先生TV launched its Chop the Charge campaign in February, after it emerged that the industry had failed to lobby Transport for London to have the charge waived.

A joint survey by the Construction Confederation and the Construction Products Association has found that 85% of firms believe that delivery vehicles should be exempt.

The survey, sent out to members of both trade bodies, revealed that 80% of product manufacturers and suppliers said the charge had affected the cost of supplying products within the charge zone. This view was also backed by 83% of the contractors surveyed.

Contractors and suppliers both pointed out that they passed the cost of the charge onto their clients.

Almost 60% of respondents could see no improvement in the ease of delivery

Construction Confederation

The Construction Products Association noted that the results showed similar strength of feeling for contractors and manufacturers.

The Construction Confederation added that almost three-quarters of respondents said that the congestion charge zone had not led to a rationalisation of deliveries. A spokesperson said: "Not surprisingly, almost 60% of respondents could see no improvement in the ease of deliveries."

The survey also showed that 90% of firms believed the charge should not be extended to cover a wider geographical area, and 75% did not believe that congestion charging should be extended to other cities.

好色先生TV launched its Chop the Charge campaign with the support of industry leaders such as Carillion chief executive John McDonough and Skanska chief executive David Fison, as well as the backing of industry trade associations.

The campaign revealed that an average large construction site in the charging zone could clock up 拢50,000 in charges.