A COUNCIL is fighting claims it knew about the ending of tidal flow in the Blackwall Tunnel months before the move was announced.

News Shopper has seen a letter from Transport for London (TfL) outlining a meeting which took place between TfL and Greenwich Council on January 18, which informed the council of plans to end the tidal flow.

This contradicts a statement from the council, published on newsshopper.co.uk on April 28, which claimed the council had not been consulted until two days before it happened.

And residents and councillors are now questioning whether there was a "hidden agenda" behind why the tidal flow was ended, causing massive delays and congestion.

It was originally claimed the reason for ending the system was to avoid further collisions, as there had been 99 accidents in the past three years.

However, only six of those happened when the tidal flow was in operation.

Resident Ed Coster, of Red Lion Lane, Shooters Hill, said: "I have concern this congestion TfL has created will be used to justify a congestion charge for Greenwich."

Roger Lawson, of the Chislehurst branch of the Association of British Drivers, said: "It could simply be an attempt to justify the proposed congestion toll south of the river."

Conservative group leader Councillor Spencer Drury has written an open letter to his colleages at Greenwich Council calling for more transparency.

Cllr Drury believes the council will use surveys being carried out by TfL on its behalf as evidence a congestion charge is needed in Greenwich.

In his letter he said: "I was disturbed to hear Greenwich Council had been told of TfL's intention to stop the tidal flow, yet said it had not been told."

Speaking to News Shopper, Cllr Drury said: "It is convenient congestion is increasing when they are considering a congestion charge."

A TfL spokesman said: "The decision to stop tidal flow was taken in conjunction with the Met Police only.

"No boroughs were given any special advance notification."

Greenwich Council says it has no record of any meeting with TfL.

It also says it has not made any decisions on congestion charging.