Urgent £40 Warning for Drivers Entering London Amid New Tolls
Drivers in London face potential daily costs of up to £40 due to new tolls and charges starting April 7
London, UK, Tolls, Traffic, Congestion, Transport for London
London: Commuters are in for a shock. Starting April 7, if you’re driving into the city, you might be shelling out between £35 and £40 just to get to work.
That’s when the Blackwall Tunnel will start charging tolls for the first time in over a century. Plus, the Silvertown Tunnel will be opening on the same day.
The tolls are set at £1.50 during off-peak hours and £4 during peak times. But Tory MP Louie French is sounding the alarm. He says some drivers could end up paying the tunnel toll, the £12.50 ultra-low emission zone charge, and the £15 congestion charge if their vehicle doesn’t meet ULEZ standards.
And if you’re driving a large van? You’ll be looking at a peak toll of £6.50. French is even pushing for a petition to get London Mayor Sadiq Khan to scrap the Blackwall toll altogether.
He argues that this toll is just another anti-driver move from Khan, adding to the already hefty charges many drivers face in Greater London.
For instance, he estimates that large van drivers from South East London could be paying over £40 a day just to work in Central London, and that’s before they even think about fuel or parking costs.
Currently, around 100,000 journeys go through the Blackwall Tunnel daily, and they’re all free right now. But with these new tolls, some drivers might start looking for other routes, like the Rotherhithe Tunnel or the Dartford Crossing on the M25.
French warns that this could lead to even more congestion, especially since the Rotherhithe Tunnel is still toll-free for now.
He believes many drivers will switch to these alternative routes, but he’s concerned that it’s only a matter of time before tolls are introduced there too. The congestion nightmare is just beginning, he says.
While these new tolls are set to increase costs for commuters, Transport for London (TfL) argues they’re necessary to reduce traffic and improve air quality.
A TfL spokesperson mentioned that the Silvertown Tunnel will help make journeys quicker, potentially cutting peak-time travel by up to 20 minutes.
They also pointed out that without these charges, traffic levels would soar, leading to worse air quality and longer travel times.
To help out, there will be various discounts available, including a 50% discount for low-income residents nearby. Plus, the Rotherhithe Tunnel and Woolwich ferry will still be free for drivers, and buses using both crossings won’t have to pay for at least the first year.