Say No to the Silvertown Tunnel

https://twitter.com/nosilvertowntnl?lang=en-gb

Measurements of harmful nitrogen dioxide levels have been taken all across London and I know from participation in local Neighbourhood Forums in both Lee Green and Deptford that the current levels of air pollution caused by traffic – especially diesel near the  *Blackwall Tunnel Approach have been recorded at a level of 110 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly THREE TIMES THE E.U./UK regulation limit of 40 micrgrams per cubic metre – which as we all know is causing over 10,000 deaths from air pollution across London EVERY YEAR!
(*http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11038665.New_Cross_Road_and_Blackwall_Tunnel_among_most_polluted_roads_in_the_country/)

As Sian Berry Green Party GLA London List Assembly member said in her campaign for Mayor: “With air pollution in London at these astronomical illegal levels, we should be focusing on making public transport improvements outside Central London, such as the Bakerloo Line extension to reduce the need for private cars.”

I agree: We need to cut down on car use and stop building roads for cars in and around London.  We need more bridges for pedestrians and cyclists and over-land trains or tram networks (some of which may still exist from infrastructure dating back to the 1950’s) to encourage people to find healthier and easier ways to travel rather than depending on cars.

Improving Air quality is essential to the survival not only of ALL people but our planet – as air pollution is also a large contributing factor to Climate Change.

As you undoubtedly know, traffic increases with every road built; and it will be no different with the silver-town tunnel if this goes ahead.  The impact upon Public transport on the roads is horrific – bus lanes are jammed and children and vulnerable people are most likely to suffer chest diseases as a result of this increase in traffic – building a tunnel for private cars including the influx of Uber vehicles which aren’t being controlled is only going to make things worse.

Solutions lie in other directions – as Clean Air, No to Silvertown Tunnel, Friends of the Earth, the Green Party and a host of other Organisations have been saying all along.  Isn’t it about time that People’s welfare was put before Profits made from these enterprises – as a mother of a teenage child – I think it is.