Drivers have been urged to register for tax exemptions ahead of the new charges being introduced at the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels.
The looming charges will come into effect on April 7 with residents, local businesses and charities given the opportunity to pre-register for discounts.
Once the charges come into force, drivers will have to pay up to £4 per journey with fees varying depending on the time of day.
Transport for London is offering certain drivers and low-income residents in 12 east London boroughs and the City of London certain benefits.
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The new Silvertown Tunnel will open on April 7
TFL
Drivers can take advantage of the 50 per cent discount on tunnel crossing charges by pre-registering with Transport for London.
Christina Calderato Director of Strategy at TfL said: “With just over two months to go until the Silvertown Tunnel opens on April 7, we’re pleased to have opened pre-registration for discounts for low-income residents, local businesses and charities for Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnel user charges.”
The tunnel charges will apply between 6am and 10pm, seven days a week. Small businesses, sole traders and charities registered and operating from Greenwich, Newham or Tower Hamlets are eligible for a £1 discount on the off-peak charge on a maximum of three vehicles.
Off-peak charges will also be available for vehicles registered with TfL Auto Pay. Eligible drivers can also get a range of discounts and concessions including free cross-river bus and DLR journeys for at least one year.
To manage traffic during the busiest times, the transport authority said peak charges will apply, with drivers charged an extra £2.50.
First announced in 2012, the Silvertown Tunnel will link Newham to the Greenwich Peninsula and hopes to make journeys faster and more reliable, with average journey time savings expected to be up to 20 minutes at peak times.
The tunnel hopes to reduce traffic congestion in the area around the Blackwall Tunnel which TfL estimates as suffering from frequent closures of more than 700 times a year.
The tunnel charges have been mixed with mixed views from drivers with one person saying: “Some people have no option but to commute north to south or vice-versa and paying £8 per day for the privilege is nothing short of scandalous.”
Another person added that London is becoming a “no-go zone” for drivers. They claimed: “No one is going to enter London for events or nights out or even to make deliveries there because the Government is trying to bleed everyone dry to line their own pockets.”
Another driver said they don’t understand the complaints, adding: “Seems like charging the actual tunnel users is the fairest funding model. What’s the alternative, charging people who don’t use it? That doesn’t seem fair.”
Calderato added that TfL would encourage all drivers who are eligible to sign up to ensure they can benefit from reduced charges.
She commented: “These discounts and concessions are in addition to the free cross-river bus journeys we are offering on routes serving both the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels for at least a year, and the cycle-shuttle service which will allow cyclists to safely cross the river.
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“We also encourage all drivers and fleet operators to register for TfL Auto Pay, to ensure their registered vehicles benefit from off-peak charges. Registering for TfL Auto Pay is free, and there are no renewal fees.”
