Sadiq Khan has knocked back calls for three electric ferries to be created on the Greenwich Peninsula, Charlton and Thamesmead, arguing that there is not currently enough money to pay for them.
The London mayor was criticised by Conservatives at City Hall, who said he was choosing to “fund his pet projects” rather than the new links between southeast and east London.
Khan recently announced a one-year freeze for most Tube and bus fares, and revealed on Sunday that he hopes to scrap peak fares on the Tube on Fridays for three months from March.
The Port of London Authority, the body that governs the tidal Thames, and the Thames Estuary Growth Board had asked the mayor to consider the plan after commissioning a study by the consultancy Arup.
It found that ferries between the Isle of Dogs and North Greenwich, Royal Wharf and Greenwich Millennium Village or Charlton, and Barking Riverside and Thamesmead, would bring significant benefits by connecting some of London’s fastest-growing areas.
If a £1 fare was set for crossing the river, the cost of establishing and running the three proposed ferries for a period of 30 years is estimated to be £370m in total, according to the study, which was published last month.
Asked in a written question by the Tory assembly member Nick Rogers whether he supported the plans, the mayor’s office said: “Transport for London regularly reviews new river crossing proposals for London.
“However, there remains significant uncertainty around TfL’s long-term capital funding. While TfL continues to progress committed schemes and agreed investments with [the] Government, TfL is not in a position to invest any significant capital costs in new schemes such as the aforementioned new ferry crossings.
“TfL remains supportive of the principle of new river crossings and is happy to support the concept in any way possible within current funding limitations. TfL is also interested to see progress with Thames Clippers’ plans for an improved cross-river ferry service between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf.”
Rogers told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “In the past few weeks, Sadiq Khan has found £177m for desperate pre-election giveaways – £30m to stave off Tube strikes, £123m to freeze TfL fares for one year and £24m to fund a temporary three-day weekend on the Tube by pausing peak fares on Fridays.
“Nobody believes Sadiq Khan any more when he says there’s no money. Sadiq Khan finds money to fund his pet projects and further his own political interests. He chooses not to fund projects that truly matter to Londoners, such as introducing new fast, green ferry crossings across the Thames.”
Rogers added that the ferries “would bring huge benefits for residents and businesses”.
“If Sadiq Khan is not prepared to progress these new routes, he should step aside for someone who will,” he said.
The Labour mayor has previously emphasised his support for more river crossings in the east of London, arguing that the area has been “neglected for centuries” in terms of its cross-Thames connectivity.
He has said that this inequality between west and east London is a key reason why he supports the construction of the Silvertown Tunnel between the Greenwich Peninsula and Royal Docks. The tunnel is due to open next year but will not accommodate pedestrians and will only carry cyclists on a special bus.
From 2028, TfL hopes to begin construction on a planned cross-river extension to the DLR, from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside. The service could be open to passengers from 2033.
Noah Vickers is the Local Democracy Reporter for City Hall, based at the Evening Standard. The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a BBC-funded scheme to help boost coverage of councils in the local media.
Comments are closed.