30/01/2025
I strongly condemn and oppose the newly introduced Blackwall Tunnel charges, which are an unjustified financial burden on local residents and daily commuters. For over a century, this essential public infrastructure has been free to use, facilitating vital transport links for Londoners. Introducing a toll now, especially for those of us who rely on it multiple times a day for essential journeys such as taking our children to school, is both unfair and disproportionate.
Legal and Legislative Considerations
1. Public Infrastructure and Fair Access
The imposition of charges on a long-standing, publicly funded tunnel raises serious concerns regarding discrimination against local residents, public trust, and inconsistent transport policies. There has been no meaningful public consultation or legislative justification for why a 100-year-old tunnel, historically free, must now carry a toll. Under the Equality Act 2010, policies that disproportionately impact certain groups—such as lower-income families who rely on the tunnel for school runs or work—could be subject to legal challenge for indirect discrimination.
2. Precedents of Free Public Tunnels in the UK
Many other tunnels in the UK, including some with superior infrastructure, remain free of charge:
• Rotherhithe Tunnel (London) – A comparable river crossing that remains toll-free despite also serving thousands of daily users.
• Mersey Tunnels (Liverpool) – While tolled, significant discounts and exemptions exist for local residents, something completely absent in the Blackwall Tunnel charge scheme.
• Clyde Tunnel (Glasgow) – A key urban tunnel with no tolls, despite serving as a major transport link.
These examples illustrate clear inconsistencies in government policy—why should residents of East and Southeast London be unfairly penalised when other cities with similar or better infrastructure enjoy free access?
3. Impact on Commuters and Local Businesses
The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 provides a framework for tolls but emphasises that they should be introduced only when necessary to manage congestion or fund improvements. However, there is no clear evidence that this charge will achieve either. The Blackwall Tunnel is already a critical, unavoidable route for thousands of residents, meaning the toll is effectively a regressive tax on local people. Unlike new infrastructure projects like the M6 Toll Road, which offers an alternative free route, this charge forces drivers into a financial trap with no viable alternative.
4. Violation of the ‘Polluter Pays’ Principle
The government justifies the toll in part on environmental grounds, yet this is inconsistent with other transport policies. If environmental impact were truly a concern, why are private jets, which disproportionately contribute to carbon emissions, not subject to similar levies? Instead, the charge targets ordinary working families while offering no real incentive or investment into public transport alternatives.
Conclusion
The Blackwall Tunnel charges are illogical, unfair, and punitive. They contradict existing transport policies across the UK, impose financial hardship on families, and fail to provide a justified legal or economic rationale. I call for an immediate review and for the government to adopt a fairer, more consistent approach to tolling that does not disproportionately penalise ordinary Londoners.
