Silvertown Tunnel: Cracks In Mayoral Policies
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
It is an infrastructure project that is well-underway with the boring almost completed — but it has a very low profile.
These are the first three paragraphs.
Every step of the Crossrail tunnelling, the media were invited along. Not so with this project.
This is Silvertown Tunnel. It is more than 1km long and will be London’s first road tunnel in over 30 years.
Perhaps one of the reasons it isn’t being pushed publicity-wise, is it is very controversial.
Tom Edwards gives a detailed outline of why the tunnel is controversial.
Under a heading of HGVs Using Bus Lanes, this is said.
Instead of using the Dartford Crossing, larger HGVs will be able to use the tunnel — and its bus lane.
Campaigners said that will mean more HGVs going through Newham and Greenwich.
I’ve also never heard this before.
Sheila Keeble, of the Greenwich Society, said the tunnel “will be magnet for bigger traffic than we’ve got at the moment”.
“One of the issues we have is all the developers are now looking at building distribution centres,” she said.
“At the moment the Blackwall Tunnel protects us from bigger traffic… Silvertown won’t.”
That is all very logical and I suspect we’ll see larger trucks in Hackney and Waltham Forest too!
There was also this bit of nonsense from Transport for London.
TfL says the tunnel will lead to an overall improvement in air quality.
How will all those trucks through the two tunnels reduce pollution?
In 2024, London must vote for a Mayor, who understands hydrogen, mathematics and science!
The Anonymous Widower 