Tunneling equipment is on the banks of the Thames and work on the £2bn Silvertown Tunnel is due to start in the coming weeks. But the plan has faced widespread opposition from locals, politicians, climate scientists and medical experts who say it will increase traffic and worsen public health in some of the country’s most deprived municipalities. They also say it will lock in high carbon transport for generations to come. Siân Berry, Green party member of the London assembly, said it was not too late for Sadiq Khan to change his mind. “This is the mayor’s last chance to stop this and save most of the cost of the project… if he stops the tunneling machines now, he can avoid not only creating traffic and pollution across the wider London area, but to avoid wasting money on a project that belongs to the last century.” Simon Pirani, emeritus professor at Durham University and member of the Stop Silvertown Tunnel campaign group, agreed: “It is not too late to cancel this project, which will be so damaging and will exacerbate local air pollution problems and undermine London’s efforts to meet its climate targets. The tunnel is to be built near the existing Blackwall Tunnel in east London and will carry four lanes of traffic – two in each direction. The Guardian revealed the project could cost more than £2 billion over the next three decades if it goes ahead. Opponents privately acknowledge that the chances of stopping tunneling at this stage are slim, but say the fight is not over. Next week the Green party will hold a meeting asking for ideas on what the tunnel could be used for – if built – instead of fossil fuel-based private transport. Berry said Londoners were able to find many other options that could work, from new train and bus links to cycling and walking routes under the Thames. He said they might even want something completely different from the tunnel, like an art or music venue. “The mayor must listen to us clearly, if the tunneling starts it is not the end of the opposition to this project. This is a plan that simply cannot go ahead.” The plans have faced opposition from a growing list of MPs and councillors. Shadow climate change secretary Matthew Pennycook, whose constituency of Greenwich and Woolwich will contain one end of the tunnel, called on Khan to overturn the plan. Lynn Brown, the Labor MP for West Ham, where the other end of the tunnel would be, also called for it to be scrapped. At least eight Labor constituencies have passed motions against the plans in recent months. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST Climate justice campaigners, anti-pollution campaigners and key youth groups within Labor also oppose the plan and warn that if Khan does not scrap it, he and Labor could lose the support of a generation of young voters. Khan’s government has repeatedly defended the scheme, arguing it is necessary to improve river crossings in east London – particularly the Blackwall Tunnel – which are “outdated and dilapidated” and say it will reduce pollution. A spokesman stressed that cross-city bus services would use the tunnel and added: “Both the Blackwall Tunnel and the new Silvertown Tunnel will be subject to a user charge and, when combined with the Mayor’s overall policy to reduce car use across the Greater London in favor of active options and public transport, will help reduce congestion without increasing the volume of traffic crossing the river.’
