An extension of London's congestion charge has won backing from residents in the Tory strongholds of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea, in a boost for the mayor Ken Livingstone's ambition to expand his £5-a-day scheme.
A study commissioned by the London assembly found that 53% of residents in the two affluent boroughs would like the charging zone to include their neighbourhoods.
However, there were suggestions that the charge had divided Londoners along wealth lines, following a resounding thumbs-down to the scheme from the east end borough of Tower Hamlets, where only 33% of people wanted the scheme extended to their area.
There was also little support for a charge in the suburbs from residents of the capital's outlying areas, with strong opposition in Richmond, Croydon and Havering.
Roger Evans, the Conservative transport spokesman in the assembly, said: "It's very noticeable that in the very well-off areas people are much more in favour. The findings highlight the regressive nature of the scheme."
Mr Livingstone has made it clear that he wants to expand the charging zone westwards if he wins a second term in next year's mayoral election.
However, he will face stiff opposition from Westminster's Tory-controlled council, which went to the high court last year to challenge the charge's legality.
Westminster recently proposed a compromise, suggesting the charge should only be levied during the morning rush hour, in an attempt to catch commuters and those on the school run without deterring people from using local shops and restaurants.
The poll, of 1,200 Londoners in seven selected boroughs, found that the greatest opposition to charging was in Havering, on the Essex border, where only 16% wanted a scheme.
The proportion rose to 25% in Croydon and 29% among Richmond residents.
The findings suggested that young Londoners were much more enthusiastic than older people, with 42% support for charging among those aged 17 to 34, compared to 24% among over-65s.
Critics suggested this was another sign of an economic split, with those in employment backing charges, while retired people were against them.
But Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat chairwoman of the assembly's transport committee, said she believed it was a reflection of more environmental awareness among the young.
Mr Livingstone has floated the prospect of imposing a congestion charge around Heathrow airport. However, he said yesterday that this would not happen before 2008. "The only possible extension during the next mayoral term would be to Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea."
