In 2025, the Mayor of London will be taking a further £160 per month* of commuters' hard-earned income if they travel by car using the Blackwall Tunnel or the new Silvertown Thames tunnel. Motorbike and Uber drivers will also be paying the tolls 

I am now calling this "The Kent Tax" because many of the commuters impacted by the tolls reside within the historic Kent county boundaries.    

These tolls disproportionally impact people from South East London and Kent because the peak toll rates at rush hour (£4 per journey) are higher if you travel northwards the morning and southwards in the evening. 

The tolls announced in July (a couple of days after the General Election results) for these tunnels threaten to disrupt ordinary peoples' way of life. An imposed toll system would hurt families, individuals, and businesses who depend on these routes. 
According to Transport for London, each day an estimated 100,000 vehicles travel between the East London (north and south of the river) using these tunnels, demonstrating the potential adverse impact that such a policy change will have on our community.

The financial burden these tolls will place upon residents of South East, East, North East London and Kent is very concerning. We believe in the freedom of movement and affordable access to transportation for all citizens. Therefore, we urge the relevant London authorities to rethink the proposed tolls on the Thames tunnels and consider the impact on local residents.

Let's stand together, uphold the interests of our community, and say a firm ‘No’ to the new proposed Thames tunnel tolls. Sign this petition today to voice your opposition.

The Mayor needs to review the funding proposals for the Silvertown tunnel and find a fairer system for all Londoners   

Note: I am not affiliated to any political party.  However, I encourage anyone from any political or non-political background to get behind the petition.

 

* calculation is based upon a 5 day commute across The Thames over a calendar month, at the peak toll rate

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I have created a gmail account for communication purposes.  If you would like to comment or give me feedback, then please send an email to this address:

➡️  blackwallandsilvertowntolls@gmail.com

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Some Food For Thought:

When TfL announced the proposed tolls and the opening of the consultation period on the 10th July, I was incensed by the timing of the announcement, as it appears this was seemingly delayed until after the General Election.  The economic analysis to calculate the toll values, the duration of peak hours and the significance of the southbound versus northbound weightings could not have been withheld from the public over the Mayoral and General elections.  

The announcement of tolls seems to have come as a shock to most petition respondents because the scale of economic impact to ordinary commuters was not widely understood during the development of the Silvertown tunnel.  For most people, the establishment of a toll on the Blackwall Tunnel was unacceptable, given that it has held a free usage status in the modern era. 

One comment left by a commuter particularly stood out:

“I work in a secondary school just north of the Black wall tunnel. The proposed charge for going through the tunnel is ridiculously high and unaffordable to me who does not earn a big salary.  It is likely I will have to resign my position and seek employment closer to home in Bromley.”   Bromley Resident.

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Proposals for The Mayor:

East versus West London divide: There is a serious issue of geographic inequality for commuters crossing the Thames every day.  Most East Londoners are dissatisfied with the tolling of their major tunnel crossings. Why would a Labour Mayor not wish to make the crossing of the Thames equal for all?  If tolls will be applied to East London, the make every bridge journey across the Thames also subject to tolls.   Why not apply a £1 toll to every crossing of The Thames within London instead of this toll?

Value for money and Pollution: With no infrastructure improvements in the direction of travel once the tunnels are exited. Does the new tunnel merely move the eventual traffic jams to a different position on the road network rather than creating a panacea?  What will be the impact to the new areas effected by traffic congestions 

General Thames cross infrastructure spending: Given that the closure of Hammersmith bridge is now over 5 years and the funds to conduct repairs are nowhere to be found, is this not a sorry state of the  Mayor’s TfL finances?  Various London Mayors have not ringfenced budgets for infrastructure aimed at improvements and major restorations.  Wouldn’t it make more sense to manage river infrastructure within a central budget rather than on a case-by-case basis?  Had the topic of Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels tolls been brought up at the appropriate time in advance of the Mayor Election, people would have been given more transparency and made the vote more meaningful.  

ULEZ Transparency:  The implementation of ULEZ has left Londoners very distrustful of the Mayoral policy.  Many people are concerned about analysis of feedback provided during consultations and the transparency of decision making.  To that end, and to provide complete transparency for this consultation process, can we see a fully audited report (by an independent firm) on the actual comments and feedback received during the online consultation process, as well as the emails that were used as a method of delivering feedback?  Can this be published to all Londoners?

This is the group of people who will be deciding on the 4th December on whether tunnel tolls will proceed in 2025:

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/corporate-governance/board-members

If you could kindly write to your local MP (quoting your address and postcode within the note), I have listed the relevant MPs and their constituencies below.  Please also cc "blackwallandsilvertowntolls@gmail.com" on your note to the MP, just that I can then keep track of all the MPs who have been contacted:

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Draft Note for emails to your MPs:

Subject: Urgent: Concerns Over Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnel Tolls - Please raise this in Parliament

Dear [MP's Name],

I am writing to express my outrage and disbelief at the planned introduction of tolls on the Blackwall Tunnel and the forthcoming Silvertown Tunnel in 2025. These crossings are critical for Londoners and commuters from the South East, yet the proposed tolls will disproportionately impact already struggling households during a time of significant economic hardship.

The economic pressures resulting from the ongoing war in Ukraine, the extension of the ULEZ, and now the imposition of tolls on these essential river crossings are unsustainable. The punitive peak-hour toll rates will further disadvantage commuters from South East London and Kent. I urge you to raise this matter at Prime Minister’s Questions as a priority.

Nearly 50,000 people have already signed a petition opposing these tolls, available here: https://chng.it/jQmTZ9c4Pb If you are not yet familiar with its content, I encourage you to review it.

There is deep mistrust in the consultation processes run by TfL, particularly following the ULEZ consultation, where detailed feedback from tens of thousands of respondents was not made transparent. Similarly, the public deserves full disclosure of all feedback received in the consultation regarding the Blackwall/Silvertown Tunnel tolls. Lack of transparency undermines public trust and accountability.

Furthermore, the Silvertown Tunnel is not merely a convenience or a gift from City Hall. It is critical national infrastructure. Recent closures of the Blackwall Tunnel have demonstrated the devastating consequences of losing access to this essential crossing. In the event of a terrorist attack or other catastrophic event that renders the Blackwall Tunnel unusable, London’s security, economic activity, and resilience would be severely compromised.

This is a national issue, not just a local one. Central government should have provided funding for the Silvertown Tunnel to support the capital's infrastructure. Why are commuters being burdened with the cost of a project essential for national security and economic stability?

I implore you to act on this issue and ensure that the voices of your constituents are heard in Parliament.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]

 

Note: PLEASE REMEMBER TO CC THIS ADDRESS ON THE EMAIL TO YOUR MP:

blackwallandsilvertowntolls@gmail.com

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South East London Parliamentary Constituencies:

    Bermondsey and Old Southwark
        MP: Neil Coyle
        Party: Labour
        Email: neil.coyle.mp@parliament.uk

    Camberwell and Peckham
        MP: Harriet Harman
        Party: Labour
        Email: harriet.harman.mp@parliament.uk

    Eltham
        MP: Clive Efford
        Party: Labour
        Email: clive@cliveefford.org.uk

    Greenwich and Woolwich
        MP: Matthew Pennycook
        Party: Labour
        Email: matthew.pennycook.mp@parliament.uk

    Lewisham Deptford
        MP: Vicky Foxcroft
        Party: Labour
        Email: vicky.foxcroft.mp@parliament.uk

    Lewisham East
        MP: Janet Daby
        Party: Labour
        Email: janet.daby.mp@parliament.uk

    Lewisham West and Penge
        MP: Ellie Reeves
        Party: Labour
        Email: ellie.reeves.mp@parliament.uk

    Old Bexley and Sidcup
        MP: Louie French
        Party: Conservative
        Email: louie.french.mp@parliament.uk

    Erith and Thamesmead
        MP: Abena Oppong-Asare
        Party: Labour
        Email: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk
      
    Bexleyheath and Crayford
        MP: David Evennett
        Party: Conservative
        Email: david.evennett.mp@parliament.uk
     
    Orpington
        MP: Gareth Bacon
        Party: Conservative
        Email: gareth.bacon.mp@parliament.uk
        

North to Mid Kent Parliamentary Constituencies:

    Dartford
        MP: Gareth Johnson
        Party: Conservative
        Email: gareth.johnson.mp@parliament.uk

    Gravesham
        MP: Adam Holloway
        Party: Conservative
        Email: adam.holloway.mp@parliament.uk

    Rochester and Strood
        MP: Kelly Tolhurst
        Party: Conservative
        Email: kelly.tolhurst.mp@parliament.uk

    Chatham and Aylesford
        MP: Tracey Crouch
        Party: Conservative
        Email: tracey.crouch.mp@parliament.uk

    Sittingbourne and Sheppey
        MP: Gordon Henderson
        Party: Conservative
        Email: gordon.henderson.mp@parliament.uk

    Faversham and Mid Kent
        MP: Helen Whately
        Party: Conservative
        Email: helen.whately.mp@parliament.uk

    Maidstone and The Weald
        MP: Helen Grant
        Party: Conservative
        Email: helen.grant.mp@parliament.uk

    Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells
        MP: Greg Clark
        Party: Conservative
        Email: greg.clark.mp@parliament.uk

    Sevenoaks
        MP: Laura Trott
        Party: Conservative
        Email: laura.trott.mp@parliament.uk

East and North East London Parliamentary Constituencies:

    Hackney North and Stoke Newington
        MP: Diane Abbott
        Party: Labour
        Email: diane.abbott.mp@parliament.uk

    Hackney South and Shoreditch
        MP: Meg Hillier
        Party: Labour
        Email: meg.hillier.mp@parliament.uk

    Bethnal Green and Bow
        MP: Rushanara Ali
        Party: Labour
        Email: rushanara.ali.mp@parliament.uk

    Tower Hamlets
        MP: Apsana Begum
        Party: Labour
        Email: apsana.begum.mp@parliament.uk

    Poplar and Limehouse
        MP: Jim Fitzpatrick
        Party: Labour
        Email: jim.fitzpatrick.mp@parliament.uk

    East Ham
    MP: Stephen Timms
        Party: Labour
        Email: timmss@parliament.uk

    Stratford and Bow 
    MP: Uma Kumaran
        Party: Labour
        Email: uma.kumaran.mp@parliament.uk

    West Ham and Beckton
    MP: James Asser
        Party: Labour
        Email: james.asser.mp@parliament.uk

    London Fields (Hackney)
        MP: Alan Brown
        Party: Labour
        Email: alan.brown.mp@parliament.uk

    Walthamstow
        MP: Stella Creasy
        Party: Labour
        Email: stella.creasy.mp@parliament.uk

    Leyton and Wanstead
        MP: John Cryer
        Party: Labour
        Email: john.cryer.mp@parliament.uk

    Ilford North
        MP: Wes Streeting
        Party: Labour
        Email: wes.streeting.mp@parliament.uk

    Ilford South
        MP: Sam Tarry
        Party: Labour
        Email: sam.tarry.mp@parliament.uk

    Romford
        MP: Andrew Rosindell
        Party: Conservative
        Email: andrew.rosindell.mp@parliament.uk

    Hornchurch and Upminster
        MP: Julia Lopez
        Party: Conservative
        Email: julia.lopez.mp@parliament.uk

    Chingford and Woodford Green
        MP: Iain Duncan Smith
        Party: Conservative
        Email: iain.duncansmith.mp@parliament.uk

    Enfield North
        MP: Feryal Clark
        Party: Labour
        Email: feryal.clark.mp@parliament.uk

    Enfield Southgate
        MP: Bambos Charalambous
        Party: Labour
        Email: bambos.charalambous.mp@parliament.uk

    Enfield West
        MP: Nick de Bois
        Party: Conservative
        Email: nick.debois.mp@parliament.uk

    Havering and Redbridge
        MP: Julia Lopez
        Party: Conservative
        Email: julia.lopez.mp@parliament.uk
        
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