Foot tunnel users still waiting for closure details

It has been indicated that most of the repairs on the Greenwich and Woolwich tunnels will take place while they are open, but they will need to be closed on occasion "for safety reasons".

A Greenwich Council spokesman said: "Tenders for the refurbishment were received earlier this month. Once these have been fully reviewed we will publish proposals for timetabling the works, including any closures.

"Our aim will be to keep disruption and inconvenience to a minimum."

The possibility of work starting this year has not been ruled out, but is becoming increasingly unlikely as the months roll by. The council has pledged to release proposals "in the Autumn", and must complete a period of public consultation and give three months notice of any closures.

While some tunnel users and local workers are still unaware of the refurbishment, a few others are willing to accept essential work as long as enough information is provided.

Dan Vance uses the tunnels on his daily cycle journey between his Plumstead home and Canary Wharf.

He said: "I use the Woolwich tunnel on my way to work and the Greenwich one on my way back.

"If they have to be closed, I'm not going to be too bothered. But they need to tell us what's happening, give us a timetable and offer us a picture of what's going to be done."

London Assembly member John Biggs has been pushing for an alternative route for cyclists during tunnel closures, but claims he has been unable to persuade the Mayor to relax the DLR's bicycle policy.

He argued that Boris Johnson had cited health and safety problems, but was still telling Greenwich Council that allowing cycles between Island Gardens and Cutty Sark was "still under consideration".

He said: "He is stalling by pretending to contemplate an alternative he knows he will never allow. He should stop raising false hopes and instead get on with helping Greenwich Council to find a genuine solution."