The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging a rethink on the future of the current congestion charge in London and any future UK charging programmes.

According to the FSB, in order to prevent the penalisation of small businesses, road charging schemes should only charge non-essential road traffic.

Coming into force in February 2003, London's congestion charge programme began expanding on February 19th 2007.

"Congestion charging is a misnomer. It is a road tax," said Steve Collie, transport chairman for the FSB.

"Many people now shop outside the zone so that they can load their cars with shopping without paying the extra £8 - shops inside the zone are hit hard," he added.

The FSB believes that permitting the growth of regional or local congestion charging schemes will introduce disparities within the economy, reducing competitiveness in some areas but not others.

With over 200,000 members, the FSB represents Britain's small business community.