A London borough has complained that Transport for London (TFL) has ignored its concerns over the introduction of user charging for Blackwall Tunnel and the new Silvertown Tunnel.
These charges were once criticised by London mayor Sadiq Khan as a tax on Londoners, though are now promoted by TfL as necessary to reduce congestion.
When the Silvertown Tunnel opens on 7 April, TfL will introduce charges for drivers to use it and the existing Blackwall tunnels.
Cars, motorbikes and small vans will pay £1.50 off-peak and £4.00 during peak hours (when paying by Auto Pay) while large vans will be charged £2.50 off-peak and £6.50 in peak times, and HGVs charged £5 off-peak and £10 in peak hours.
The London Borough of Bexley said that during the consultation period for the charges, it asked for a thorough assessment of the economic consequences prior to any charges being finalised but that TFL approved the proposed charges at their December board meeting ‘with few changes to their original proposals, and with very little benefit to Bexley’.
It said that with discounts only available to people on low incomes and the £1 discount to local businesses not extended to cover Bexley, 'the charges will put further pressure on household finances and an extra burden on Bexley’s small businesses which are particularly reliant on cars and vans'.
Cabinet member for neighbourhoods Richard Diment said: ‘This is another kick in the teeth for our residents and small businesses. We need a more comprehensive package of concessions and for the area of coverage for resident discounts to be extended to Bexley given the lack of modern public transport links serving the borough.'
In 2016, Transport Network revealed that Mr Khan, then a candidate to be Mayor of London, said the planned charges for the tunnels were ‘in many people’s minds a tax on East and South East Londoners’.
A TfL spokesperson said: 'Due to the proximity of the tunnels to each other, without the introduction of a user charge at both tunnels, there would likely be high levels of traffic and congestion which would lead to detrimental air quality impacts, as well as longer journey times.
'To help residents and businesses, a wide range of concessions and discounts will be available, including a 50 per cent discount which would be available for low-income?residents in surrounding areas, including Bexley.'
TfL has also been criticised over a new £2m bus shuttle service to carry cyclists and their bikes through the tunnel.
The London Cycling Campaign said the service was an ‘afterthought’ and a ‘distraction’ from the expected increase in traffic and complained that the bus stops were badly sited relative to cycle routes.
However, Cycling UK said that in the absence of a bridge or a protected cycle lane in the tunnel, it was pleased that TfL plans to offer a free service during the first year.
