London Mayor Sadiq Khan is facing accusations of attempting to address a £15 billion deficit in Transport for London (TfL)’s finances by implementing tolls on the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels, which are estimated to generate £123 million in revenues. The revelation, provided in response to a query from City Hall Conservatives, pertains to Silvertown’s first full financial year of operation in 2025. TfL will receive the revenues, offset by annual construction repayments and fees.
The Blackwall Tunnel in south London, frequently used by thousands, has been criticized by the Mayor as “not fit for purpose.” The Silvertown Tunnel project aims to alleviate persistent traffic congestion at Blackwall, with charges implemented at both tunnels to manage the flow of cars into the City.
In October, Mayor Khan confirmed that drivers would be required to pay tolls for using both Thames Crossings to support the construction of the £2 billion Silvertown Tunnel. While he proposed a £5.25 fee for the Blackwall Tunnel, TfL states that the actual charge level has not yet been finalized.
A spokesperson from Transport for London (TfL) justified the introduction of user charges for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels, emphasizing the need to manage traffic effectively and deliver anticipated environmental and economic benefits. The spokesperson mentioned that these charges align with planning requirements to manage traffic levels and environmental impact.
However, City Hall’s Conservative transport spokesman, Keith Prince, accused Mayor Khan of “waging war on motorists” to address TfL’s ongoing financial challenges. TfL’s financial struggles have been a contentious political issue, with the operator relying on government support during the pandemic. Prince criticized the ULEZ scheme expansion last summer, stating that motorists would pay almost £1 billion in road user charges, including unfair ULEZ charges in outer London.
Prince accused Khan of planning to generate millions more for TfL by imposing tolls on the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels. He urged the Mayor to disclose the toll amounts and clarify how much of the toll revenue would be used to support TfL’s finances.
Responding to the accusations, a source close to Mayor Khan labeled the claims from the Conservative party as “utter hypocrisy” and suggested that tolling at Blackwall was originally the “brainchild of Boris Johnson.” The source emphasized that no decision had been made regarding the toll level proposed by Johnson and highlighted Khan’s commitment to supporting local residents.
It’s worth noting that a preliminary report on the Silvertown Tunnel scheme was published in October 2015 when Boris Johnson was Mayor. The report proposed tolls at both crossings due to traffic levels and the environmental impacts of the scheme.
