Boris johnson backs blackwall tunnel rethink

By John Hill on February 6, 2008 12:06 PM |

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MAYORAL hopeful Boris Johnson has promised to re-install the Blackwall Tunnel tidal flow if he achieves power.

The Conservative candidate made the pledge in his transport manifesto, which also called for bendy buses to be replaced by Routemaster buses with conductors.

The tidal flow allowed vehicles to travel north in the southbound tunnel during rush hour. Transport for London scrapped the system in April due to concerns from police over safety. More than 2,500 furious motorists have signed petitions calling for its return.

Mr Johnson said: “The current mayor is clearly a Zone One man who cares little for those living in London’s outer boroughs who get a raw deal. My transport manifesto takes that into account – and will appeal to the whole of London.”

If elected on May 1, Mr Johnson will also oppose toll increases at the Dartford Crossing, crack down on utility companies who dig up roads too frequently, and enforce community service for youths who abuse their free bus privileges.

Phil Briscoe, councillor for Blackwall and Cubitt Town, hailed his Conservative colleague for making east London roads a priority.

The City and East London Assembly candidate said: “We need someone who can bring fresh thinking to tackling our transport problems, not the same old out-of-date suggestions we currently get.”

Mayor Ken Livingstone argued the pledges would increase bus fares by at least 15 per cent.
He said: “Even to replace the bendy bus routes with buses with conductors on would cost £108million a year – not the £8m a year falsely claimed by Boris Johnson.

“To replace all London’s 5,000 double deckers and bendy buses with his new bus would cost £600m
a year and require almost doubling bus fares.”

Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick slammed the manifesto as “naive and unworkable” and “little more than an empty promise from a clueless candidate”.

john.hill@wharf.co.uk