Congestion charging starts in central London next month. It will not work if millions of motorists have their way.

But something has to be done to prevent London and other cities grinding to a halt as more people buy cars.

A draft regional transport strategy says if cities such as Brighton and Hove are not to study charging seriously, they will have to look at other ways of reducing traffic.

Councillors from the main parties, who - let us remember - are facing crucial elections in May, are united in opposing charging now.

Whoever wins the election will have to look at radical and possibly uncomfortable measures which may be unpopular with motorists to keep traffic moving.