Silvertown Tunnel

Officers are preparing an answer.

You are correct that Transport for London (TfL) modelling shows that the new tunnel without any user charges is likely to lead to significant increases in traffic, and this is why I have been absolutely clear that the charge is an integral part of the scheme, alongside the new bus network and other elements; this is not a typical ‘road-building’ scheme.

I do not agree that the user charges are set at the discretion of a future Mayor. The Charging Policy, and the User Charging Assessment Framework, set out a clear statutory process by which the initial user charges will be set and how they will be varied in future to ensure delivery of the scheme’s assessed benefits and impacts. Non-compliance with the terms of the Development Consent Order is potentially a criminal offence and as such it is hard to countenance circumstances under which a future Mayor would wish to place themselves in such a position.