Louie French, Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has launched a petition against Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s plans to toll the Blackwall Tunnel from 2025.
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.
Commenting, Louie said:
“The Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s plans to toll Blackwall Tunnel in yet another attack on drivers in Greater London after his much-hated ULEZ expansion.
There are many vehicle crossings in Central and West London that are currently free to cross and not tolled, but Sadiq Khan now wants to charge people for one of the few crossings between East and South East London, despite originally being built over 125 years ago.
London is now officially the slowest city in the world to drive but Labour's war on motorists shows no sign of slowing. First it was low-traffic neighbourhoods dividing communities, then the regressive and unfair ULEZ expansion to the suburbs, followed by the roll out of 20mph on main roads and taxing you more for parking a car they don't approve of, now it’s slamming a charge on one of South East London’s limited crossings, in comparison to West London’s many free vehicle crossings.”
You can sign the petition here: www.louiefrench.org.uk/campaigns/say-no-blackwall-toll
