Blackwall Tunnel: Sadiq Khan and TfL urged to provide details of toll charge ‘as soon as possible’

A Conservative London Assembly candidate has called on Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) to provide “clear and detailed plans” for the Blackwall Tunnel toll “as soon as possible”.

The toll is to be implemented once the Silvertown Tunnel opens in 2025, with charging schemes on both tunnels intended to pay off the bill for the Silvertown project, and help manage traffic levels.

Draft images of signage were published last month in government documents, with costs of £4 for cars and £8.50 for larger vehicles noted.

TfL has however since said these were only placeholder costs, with the final fee yet to be decided.

Freddie Downing, who is standing for the City and East seat in next year’s London Assembly elections, had initially raised his concerns about introducing a toll on the Blackwall Tunnel in a letter to Mr Khan back in August.

He also asked what support would be available to low-income residents and local businesses, among other queries.

Having subsequently received a response to most of his points from Seb Dance, deputy mayor for transport, Mr Downing this week followed up by requesting the mayor and TfL provide further details about the scheme “as soon as possible”.

Writing that he is “uncomfortable with plans to charge drivers for use of a tunnel that was previously free”, Mr Downing added he believes there is no need to “stick rigidly to plans drawn up a decade ago”.

This is in reference to the inception of the scheme under the tenure of the previous London mayor, Boris Johnson. The Development Consent Order (DCO) was eventually signed off by the former Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, in 2018, by which point Mr Khan had been elected into the role.

In his letter to Mr Dance, Mr Downing continues to write that TfL’s plan to share further information closer to the opening of the Silvertown Tunnel is “extremely unhelpful for families, businesses and charities who need to use the Blackwall Tunnel, many of whom are already experiencing cost of living pressures”.

As such, Mr Downing calls on the mayor and TfL “to come forward with clear and detailed plans as soon as possible so people can start planning”, including what the charging levels will likely be, and what support will be available.

On Friday, Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, Louie French, went even further, as he launched a petition urging Mr Khan to cancel his plans to toll the Blackwall Tunnel.

On his website, Mr French writes: “The London mayor plans to toll Blackwall Tunnel for journeys once the Silvertown Tunnel is completed in 2025. This is despite Blackwall Tunnel being originally built in 1897 and being one of very few road crossings east of Tower Bridge compared to the many free crossings in central and west London.

“There are an estimated 100,000 journeys through the Blackwall Tunnel each day, which are currently free.

“The draft road signs by Transport for London suggest both tunnels will be tolled from 6am to 10pm, with costs given of £3 for motorcyclists, £4 for cars, and £8.50 for other vehicles for each crossing.

“The Blackwall Toll is the latest anti-motorist policy being launched by Sadiq Khan and will be in addition to the £12.50 ULEZ daily charge millions of drivers in Greater London and surrounding counties are now facing.”

A TfL spokesperson highlighted certain support measures have been listed on the transport authority’s website for several years, which it is legally committed to as part of the DCO planning approval in 2018.

These include £1m worth of support for local businesses, and £2m in bus concessions for nearby residents.

Commenting on the tolls, they said: “The Silvertown Tunnel, once open, will support growth in the local area, provide new public transport connections across the river via zero-emission bus routes and address the chronic issues Londoners face at the Blackwall Tunnel.

“We remain committed to delivering this project with minimal impact to those living, working and visiting the local area and the project remains on target to be completed in 2025.

“As has been publicised for many years, once the Silvertown Tunnel opens, drivers must pay a user charge for using either the Blackwall or the Silvertown Tunnel. This was proposed in 2012 and agreed with government ministers following a public examination of the proposals between October 2016 and April 2017.

“The exact charge levels for various types of vehicles using the new tunnel will be decided closer to the opening date. This user charge will pay for building and maintaining the tunnel - but its main purpose is to help us manage traffic levels. Any surplus revenue will be reinvested in London’s transport network.”

Since it was first announced, the Silvertown Tunnel has come under heavy criticism largely for its potential impact on air quality, with local councils and academics among those to oppose the scheme.

The mayor and TfL however argue it is essential to ease congestion around the Blackwall Tunnel, and that the tolls will help manage traffic levels.