Sadiq Khan has been slammed over accusations that he is using a new toll to plug the hole in Transport for London finances and target drivers.
The embattled London Mayor has come under fire over claims he is using two new tunnels to charge Britons to drive in the capital in the coming years.
It has been claimed that the money would then be used to plug a “black hole in TfL finances” after research from City Hall estimated £123million could be raised annually.
City Hall has forecast that motorists will be charged to use the Blackwall Tunnel and the new Silvertown Tunnel from 2025.
Sadiq Khan has been accused of targeting drivers with charges
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Blackwall Tunnel was previously free to drive through, while the new £2billion Silvertown Tunnel is set to open next year.
It had been suggested that Sadiq Khan proposed setting up the Blackwall toll at a cost of £5.25, with a return costing as much as £10.50.
Transport for London has maintained that the levels of the tolls have not been decided yet, according to The Telegraph.
It claims that drivers are required to pay for both tunnels to ensure that traffic is not attracted to one disproportionately, requiring both to charge the same price.
The London Conservatives have accused the Labour mayor of “waging war on motorists”, while a source close to Sadiq Khan claimed the Blackwall Tunnel toll was the “brainchild” of Boris Johnson.
City Hall said: “The revenue projections for the first full financial year that the tunnel operates were £123million. This included income from both tolling and penalties.
“The revenue from the user charge is expected to fund the construction and maintenance costs of the new tunnels, which has been privately financed by the Riverlinx consortium.”
Keith Prince, transport spokesperson for City Hall Conservatives, said: “Sadiq Khan is waging war on motorists to plug the £15billion black hole in TfL finances.
“Motorists will pay TfL almost £1billion this year in road user charges including unfair Ulez charges in outer London.”
A source close to Sadiq Khan slammed the Conservatives, saying it was “utter hypocrisy” from the Tory party, adding that no decision had been taken on whether charges would apply.
This follows the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in August last year with thousands of people now included in the zone and eligible to be charged if their vehicle is not compliant.
The move was met with mass disapproval from motorists with many taking to the streets to protest the changes and some even being arrested for cutting down, stealing and blowing up Ulez cameras.
A spokesperson for TfL said: “The purpose of introducing a user charge for the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels is to manage traffic effectively, and deliver the expected environmental and economic benefits.
“It was first proposed in 2012 and forms part of the planning consent for the Silvertown Tunnel and was formally approved by Government ministers in 2018.
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If charges are introduced, drivers will be required to pay them from next year
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“The planning consent requires TfL to manage traffic levels and environmental impact and introducing these charges has been a long-standing way to comply with the planning requirements.”