The Mayor has compromised the healthy streets heart of his own transport strategy by pushing ahead with plans for Silvertown Tunnel, a proposed huge new urban motorway in east London, says Caroline Russell AM.
Caroline Russell urged the Mayor to scrap the scheme in May 2016 but he refused. [1]
The Secretary of State will take a decision on the plans by next week at the latest. Caroline has outlined her objections to the plans in her response to the draft Transport Strategy [2] and in a submission to the planning inspectorate. [3]
Caroline Russell, Green Party Member of the London Assembly, says:
The vision for healthy streets as set out in the draft Transport Strategy is really encouraging, if the Mayor takes the right decisions, he could turn London into a walking and cycling paradise.
But by inexplicably pushing for a giant road tunnel that would swamp what is already one of the most polluted parts of the capital with even more cars, he threatens to undermine his promising vision for more walking and cycling.
The Mayor should give residents the choice to cross the river by public transport, on foot or by bike rather than leaving them with little choice but to add to congestion and pollution by using a car.
He must be consistent. New roads bring new traffic, pollute the air and aren’t compatible with healthy streets. He should remove his backing for the Silvertown Tunnel scheme.
Notes to editors
[1] Video of Green London Assembly Member Caroline Russell urging the Mayor to withdraw Silvertown Tunnel Plans at Mayor's Question Time, May 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OPjtHHn8aI
[2] Caroline Russell AM, Response to the Mayor's draft Transport Strategy, Oct 2017 https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/london-assembly/assembly-members/publications-caroline-russell/publication-caroline-russ-11
[3] Caroline Russell AM, representation to planning inspectorate objecting to Silvertown Tunnel https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/london/silvertown-tunnel/?ipcsection=relreps&relrep=25294