Foot Tunnels to close 'occasionally'

Thursday, 03 September 2009

By Shade Lapite

THE Greenwich and Woolwich Foot Tunnels will only close “occasionally” while refurbishment work is carried out.

The announcement came from Greenwich council after cyclists said they were concerned about the effect of an 18-month shut-down of the tunnels during the revamp.

The routes under the river are used by 1.5 million people every year.

A Greenwich council spokesman said: “Our aim is to keep disruption and inconvenience to a minimum.

"Most of the work will take place while the tunnels remain open. On occasions we may need to close each of the tunnels for safety reasons.”

Campaign organisation Greenwich Cyclists has been fighting to highlight the disruption that closure of the tunnels would cause.

They were surprised at the council’s latest comment.

Anthony Austin from Greenwich Cyclists said: “That’s news to us. About six weeks ago we held a meeting with the council and they wouldn’t come up with any commitment like that.

"It’s not good news, it’s just less inconvenient news.”

The group would still like to see alternatives offered for crossing the river while the improvement work takes place.

Otherwise, during times when both tunnels are shut cyclists would be forced to either cover extra miles to cross Tower Bridge or use the Woolwich Ferry.

The council’s spokesman added: “We have asked the Mayor of London to consider allowing cycles to be carried between Cutty Sark and Island Gardens DLR stations, should daytime closure of the tunnel be required.

"The Mayor has written to say this is under consideration.” Lift replacement work will start later this year and the main revamp will begin early in 2010.

Email: mercury@slp.co.uk

For the full story, you can get a full online edition at www.slp-e-edition.co.uk

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