A London borough representing more than 200,000 people has criticised the "unfair charges" imposed on residents following the introduction of tolls at the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels earlier this week.
Bexley Council expressed concern over the pricing structure, which it claims disproportionately affects Bexley commuters who need to cross the Thames for work.
The tolls, which came into effect this week on April 7, form part of the opening of the new Silvertown Tunnel linking Newham to the Greenwich Peninsula.
While the tunnel aims to reduce congestion and improve cross-river public transport options, Bexley Council argued that its residents face an unfair financial burden due to the toll structure.
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The Silvertown Tunnel charges drivers roughly £3 per journey
TFLThe council has now urged residents to check available discounts to minimise costs while continuing to voice concerns about the impact on local commuters. The pricing structure has created what the council describes as a significant disparity for residents who commute across the Thames.
A Bexley resident registered for Auto Pay - which would pay £4 each way during peak hours, totalling £8 daily when travelling northbound from 6am to 10am and southbound from 4pm to 7pm.
In contrast, those travelling in the opposite direction during these times benefit from a discounted off-peak rate of just £1.50 each way, resulting in a total daily cost of only £3.
This £5 daily difference particularly affects Bexley commuters who typically travel north in the morning and south in the evening for work.
But to help drivers, Transport for London has implemented a range of discounts to help mitigate the impact of the new tolls. Low-income residents in 12 east and southeast London boroughs, including Bexley, are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on tunnel charges if they receive certain benefits.
These qualifying benefits include Income Support, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Carer's Allowance and Housing Benefit.
Small businesses, sole traders and charities registered in Greenwich, Newham or Tower Hamlets can also receive a £1 discount on the off-peak charge for up to three vehicles.
Meanwhile, all taxis and Blue Badge holders registered with TfL are exempt from the charges. NHS staff and eligible patients can also have tunnel charges reimbursed through the NHS reimbursement scheme.
Councillor Richard Diment said: "This is a real kick in the teeth for our residents and small businesses who are being treated unfairly. The higher charge for travelling South to North from boroughs such as Bexley to Newham needs to be urgently addressed with a more comprehensive package of concessions.
"Residents and businesses in Bexley have no choice but to use the tunnels given the lack of modern public transport links serving the borough and should not be discriminated against for doing so."
The council noted it had long campaigned for better transport links and broader public transport investment but claims these requests "have been ignored."
During the consultation period, the council had requested a thorough assessment of economic consequences before finalising charges, but TfL approved them with few changes.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The Silvertown Tunnel hopes to alleviate stress on the Blackwall tunnelTRANSPORT FOR LONDONThe new Silvertown Tunnel is a 1.4km link between Newham and the Greenwich Peninsula designed to address chronic congestion around the Blackwall Tunnel.
According to Transport for London, the tunnel will make journeys faster and more reliable, with expected journey time savings of up to 20 minutes at peak times.
