Cash worries raise doubts over DLR extension to Thamesmead

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Greenwich council has suggested that it may not be able to fund the proposed DLR extension to Thamesmead, with the authority negotiating with the Mayor of London in an attempt to bring down the bill.

The authority’s cabinet member for transport claimed the council was concerned about the level of money it was being asked to contribute towards the project.

Transport for London (TfL) launched a consultation between February and March this year on plans to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside. The transport authority has claimed up to 30,000 new homes could be provided in Newham and Greenwich from the scheme, and create up to 10,000 new jobs.

However, Labour councillor Averil Lekau, cabinet member for transport for Greenwich council, said that council finances could hinder the planned extension.

The cabinet member said that a business case for the extension had been put forward to central government, and that discussions were ongoing.

Cllr Lekau said: “We are being asked to front a considerable amount of money [alongside] Newham and both authorities are concerned that we would just not be able to do that, so we’re still negotiating with the Mayor and the government to see how that goes.”

Newham council said it was still at an early stage of talks about the extension project’s development. It claimed a lot of design work was still needed alongside identifying funding sources for the scheme’s construction.

“We have not been formally asked to commit funding at present,” a spokesman added.

Documents revealed last year that the construction of the project could cost up to £1.7 billion. The Mayor of London hinted in May that Belvedere could also benefit from an additional extension of the DLR in future.

Pictured top: Woolwich Town Hall, where Greenwich council holds its meetings (Picture: Joe Coughlan)