Fears grow of toll for Rotherhithe tunnel

Will cars use it to beat Blackwall and Silvertown fee?

- Ross Lydall

CONCERNS are mounting that road tolls could be imposed on a third river crossing in east London.

It comes despite Transport for London commissioner Andy Lord insisting there were “no plans” to start charging drivers to use Rotherhithe tunnel. Critics suspect many motorists will divert to the 116-year-old tunnel, which lies east of Tower Bridge and links Rotherhithe and Limehouse, when £4 rush-hour tolls are introduced next spring at the Blackwall and new Silvertown tunnels.

Mr Lord, asked at a City Hall meeting whether he could “rule out” a Rotherhithe toll if motorists used it instead of Blackwall or Silvertown, said: “There are no plans for any introduction of tolling at Rotherhithe.”