PRESS RELEASE 5 JANUARY 2006

A Local Bridge for Local People?

Transport for London (TfL) announced new proposals at the Thames Gateway Bridge Inquiry that would create inequity between the residents of Bexley and those of other Boroughs. To deal with higher than predicted traffic flows in Bexley with the Thames Gateway Bridge (TGB), TfL propose to reduce the residents’ discount area as well as increase peak time tolls by 50%.

Some residents from the deprived areas of North Bexley who now fall outside the toll discount area would see a three-fold increase in toll charges from £1 to £3. In stark contrast the whole of Newham is proposed to remain a discount area paying a toll of £1. This totally ludicrous scenario undermines the support given to this scheme by the Bexley Care Trust whose main argument has been to improve health by creating jobs for the deprived communities of North Bexley.

New evidence, based on the increased tolls, from TfL’s Regeneration expert shows that the total increase in potential employment in Bexley, with the Thames Gateway Bridge, has fallen to between zero and 500 jobs. Professor Spence, independently commissioned by the NHS states that “he would not be surprised if the actual impacts proved to be somewhat lower than the highest projection and, as a consequence, he has a preference for those results at the lower end of the scale”.

Could we even see job losses to people in Bexley?

During the Consultation period, TfL told local people that the TGB was a ‘Local Bridge for Local People’ and yet now only a small percentage of Bexley residents would be eligible to use the TGB at the discounted rate. It should not be forgotten that without a Public Inquiry these facts would not have come to light and it is very likely that Bexley Council’s Planning Committee would have voted differently in November 2004 with these facts before them.

Even with toll increases, Bexley would still experience a marked increase in traffic and mitigation measures with negligible benefits. Longer distance traffic, especially commercial vehicles, would be proportionally less affected by a toll increase when compared to an individual from a deprived area seeking employment.

Where is the reasoning in building a crossing that people are then discouraged from using? Will higher tolls restrict traffic volumes in the long-term if at all? The M6 is a good example of this not happening. It is likely that pressure will mean that the TGB’s maximum capacity is utilised in the future. A quote from a Dartford Crossing website says, “Despite the three crossings, there are still delays because the increase in capacity has caused an increase in traffic wanting to use the crossing.”

Jacqui & Steve Wise

Action Group Against the Bridge (AGAB) Contact 020 8301 4243

Terry Grant

St. Michael’s Residents’ Association (SMRA) Contact 020 8298 1105

The next phase of the TGB Inquiry is due to start at Charlton Athletic Football Club on Tuesday 21 February 2006 at 10am.