Transport for London (TfL) has been urged to show restraint over its planned congestion charge increase.

Same-day distribution firm CitySprint called for officials to adopt a tiered approach to the proposed price hike. It estimated it had spent over £1 million on the tax last year alone and warned the intended rise in fees could not be justified. 

TfL is planning on increasing the charge from £10 to £11.50 per day, equating to an inflation of 15 per cent. However the move has been attacked as being detrimental to companies that have to use the capital's roads as a necessity and opponents have called for such firms to be exempt from the charges, or suffer a smaller price increase. 

Chief executive officer at CitySprint Patrick Gallagher commented: "As businesses start to emerge from the downturn, this is the last thing they need and we are calling on TfL and the mayor to apply some common sense." 

The consultation process on the proposed hike in fees will run until March 14th.