Anti-Silvertown Tunnel activist selected as Green Party London Assembly candidate
A member of the cross-party Stop The Silvertown Tunnel Coalition has been selected as a Green Party candidate ahead of next year’s Greater London Assembly elections.
Karin Tearle has been selected by the Green Party as a prospective candidate for the Greenwich and Lewisham constituency.
Voters will go to the polls in May 2024 to elect a new London Mayor and 25 members of the Greater London Assembly, of which three currently represent the Green Party.
Ms Tearle said: “I’m excited to be standing to represent Greenwich and Lewisham alongside so many fantastic Green Party candidates across London.
“We have so many ideas and so much energy about how we can make London a better place.
“Greenwich and Lewisham have been represented by the same Labour Assembly Member since the London Assembly was created in 2000, and it’s time for a change.”
Ms Tearle has been an active member of the cross-party Stop The Silvertown Tunnel Coalition (STSTC) since 2017.
The Silvertown Tunnel will be built under the Thames, linking Silvertown to the Greenwich Peninsula in east London.
Transport for London has said the tunnel – which is set to open in 2025 – will help reduce chronic congestion at the Blackwall Tunnel and allow for better public transport links.
But, STSTC argues that if completed, the tunnel will worsen air pollution in the borough, bring more traffic and add to the climate change problem.
Ms Tearle said: “Electing a Green Party London Assembly member for Greenwich and Lewisham would send a huge message that the Silvertown Tunnel should be used for sustainable travel, not increased traffic and polluting HGVs.
“It would also open up both boroughs to new ideas to tackle the housing crisis, cost of living, and climate crisis locally.”
Kieran Terry has been announced as the new Conservative London Assembly candidate for Greenwich and Lewisham.
The Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have been approached for comment and details on their candidate.
Pictured top: Karin Tearle (Picture: Green Party)