The new Cable Car crossing the Thames between the O2 and EdExcel is a "broken promise" to Londoners according to Labour London Assembly Member John Biggs. The Cable Car, which originally was supposed to cost the taxpayer nothing, will in fact cost the taxpayer millions of pounds. The sponsors will only pay £36million over 10 years of the total £60million cost. In return the sponsors logo and name will appear on every tube map in London.
Responding to today's announcement that the Cable Car will open later this month, Labour London Assembly Member John Biggs said:
"While a new river crossing is welcome, it is a real shame that locals will have to pay a premium fare to get across the river. We were also promised by Mayor Johnson that this scheme would cost the taxpayer nothing, in fact we will end up paying tens of millions of pounds. The sponsors have got an exceptionally good deal out of the Mayor, it's a shame he didn’t push them harder and get a better deal for Londoners. The Cable Car and this deal is a broken promise to Londoners. East London despetately needs serious solutions to its transport problems, in particular, two new road crossings east of Tower Bridge. The mayor has cancelled one of these and massively delayed the second."
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