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14 December 2005
Bexley Opposes Latest Proposal On Discounted Bridge
Tolls
Bexley Council has described Transport for London's latest proposal,
to reduce the availability of discounted tolls on the Thames Gateway
Bridge to its residents, as "totally unacceptable".
TfL has confirmed that its previous forecasts of traffic levels after
the opening of the bridge were unreliable. Its revised forecasts predict
much higher levels of traffic in Bexley.
TfL has suggested some changes to its proposals for dealing with the
impact of this increased traffic -
Increasing the toll for non-local traffic from £2 to £3.
Making improvements to a number of junctions.
Reducing the area within which Bexley residents will benefit from
a discount on the bridge tolls.
Cllr Daniel Francis , Bexley Council's Cabinet Member for
Transport Planning and Parking, says the Council will oppose any plan to
limit the availability of toll discounts to Bexley residents.
"Reducing the discount area will not reduce the flow of traffic
caused by residents north of the river who use the bridge and then drive
through Bexley to reach the A2 or M25. Bexley would still suffer from
high traffic levels, but very few of its residents would benefit from
discounted tolls.
He adds: "The proposal would not alter the availability of discounted
tolls in other boroughs served by the bridge. Residents in the boroughs
of Barking & Dagenham and Redbridge, living many miles from the bridge,
would receive a discount, while residents in parts of Belvedere and
Erith, as well as all residents in Northumberland Heath, Bexleyheath and
Welling will not benefit, even though these areas will carry significant
amounts of traffic from the bridge."
Contact: Georgia Jerram
communications@bexley.gov.uk
020 8294 6223 |
