The new Silvertown Tunnel will open in April this year, with hopes of reducing traffic and cleaning London’s air. The new 1.4km road tunnel boasts bus lanes and was first proposed in 2012 with plans being green-lighted in 2018.
But it has not escaped controversy with some slamming London Mayor Sadiq Khan for pricing them out of using it. Some road users will have to fork out a tenner each time they drive through it.
Reaction from locals has varied with a petition opposing the “Kent tax” already gaining over 42,000 signatures . Organiser, Liam Davis, has described the “financial burden” the tolls could place on residents as “very concerning”.
Costing £2.2billion, Mayor Khan funded the infrastructure project with a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) against future earnings. He said the debt would be payed off by tolls.
How much will it cost motorists?
|
Vehicle type |
Auto Pay off-peak charges Applies at all other times between 06:00-22:00, including weekends |
Auto Pay peak charges Monday to Friday only Northbound 06:00-10:00 Southbound 16:00-19:00 |
Charges paid by phone or online At all times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle, moped, motor tricycle | £1.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 |
| Cars and small van | £1.50 | £4.00 | £4.00 |
| Large van | £2.50 | £6.50 | £6.50 |
| Heavy goods vehicle | £5.00 | £10.00 | £10.00 |
Who drives for free?
Concessions and discounts will be available, including a 50 per cent discount for low-income residents in 12 east and southeast London boroughs and the City of London.
These boroughs are Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest and the City of London.
There will also be a £1 discount on the standard off-peak charge for at least one year for small businesses, sole traders and charities registered in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Greenwich.
All buses, coaches and vehicles with nine seats or more registered with the DVLA will automatically be exempt. Taxis, blue badge holders, and wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles registered with TfL will not be charged.
‘Zero-Emission Capable’ Private Hire Vehicles licensed by TfL – which currently make up at least 40 per cent of the 93,000 fleet – will also be exempt. Vehicles registered under the
Accredited Breakdown/Recovery vehicle discount will also not have to pay a charge. Tunnel charges will also be reimbursed to NHS staff and patients eligible through the NHS reimbursement scheme
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