River crossing at Thamesmead would be 'disastrous'

That’s the view of cllr Gareth Bacon as Bexley Council agreed its formal response to Transport for London proposals for a new ferry crossing.

A group of Bexley’s most powerful councilors voted that plans to install a fixed link from Thamesmead to Beckton at Gallions Reach be rejected during a meeting last night. (March 5)

Cllr Bacon, the cabinet member for the environment and public realm at Bexley Council, said: "Our message to Transport for London and those who are pushing for a fixed link at Thamesmead is clear.

“Bexley will not stand by and let the bridge back in with all the congestion that would entail in our borough. It has been proven to be a fundamentally flawed idea and would be disastrous for local people.

“There are other locations which would be clearly much better suited, such as Woolwich."

During the meeting at Bexley Civic Offices Cllr Bacon said: “You don’t regenerate an area by simply driving through it.”

The council did however throw its weight behind plans for a new tunnel at Silvertown.

Back in 2004 a scheme to build a six-lane crossing at Gallions Reach was approved by Greenwich and Newham councils.

However, Bexley Council, as a neighbouring authority, objected The application was then passed onto the Secretary of State, who allowed TfL further time but the scheme was eventually dropped after the election of Boris Johnson as mayor.

He is set to consider the crossing options further in April.