Silvertown Tunnel’s contract is contested by losing bidders

BY TOM BULL and JESSIE MATHEWSON
Local Democracy Reporters
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

Losing bidders have successfully imposed a block on a massive tunnel contract being awarded by the capital’s transport chiefs, it has been revealed.

The highly contentious Silvertown project cannot currently be awarded to the winning contractors, Riverlinx, by Transport for London (TfL) as a result.

STC, who failed in their bid to build the tunnel, is taking TfL to court over its decision to award the project to Riverlinx earlier this year.

The new road, joining Greenwich to Silvertown, has been heavily opposed by activists, residents and some councillors for creating more fumes at one of London’s worst pollution hot spots.

It comes as climate activists gathered on a Blackwall Tunnel slip road recently in protest of the new tunnel.

The controversial river crossing has been criticised by many, including campaign group Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition, for contradicting the Mayor’s declaration of a “climate emergency”.

A spokesman for TfL said: “We are disappointed that our reserve bidder, STC, has decided to challenge the outcome of our procurement process for the design, build, finance and maintain contract for the Silvertown Tunnel.

“We are awaiting further details about the claim and will respond to them in due course.”

The challenge means TfL is legally suspended from awarding the contract to Riverlinx later this summer as planned.

Activist Victoria Rance, spokeswoman for Stop the Silvertown Tunnel coalition described the news as “brilliant” and said she was “thrilled” to have more time to campaign against the tunnel.

She said: “We’re incredibly interested in why this happened and we celebrate more time to continue the campaign.

“There’s a climate emergency – everything changes in a climate emergency and the carbon spend on this project is way too high. Everything has to be reconsidered.

“There had been overwhelming support from the community, and many locals didn’t know about the plans for the new tunnel.”

The tunnel, estimated to cost £1billion, has drawn fierce local criticism on both sides of the Thames.

Hackney Council has reiterated its opposition to the new road, writing to transport chiefs calling for it to be abandoned.

Greenwich Council is committed to supporting the tunnel, but local Labour branches have begun pressing their leadership to change its stance.

Green assembly member Caroline Russell welcomed the delay as “a real opportunity” for the Mayor to reconsider the Silvertown project.

She said: “This toxic tunnel proposal locks in decades of extra polluting traffic driving through south and east London rather than helping people get around in a better way.

“The Mayor should cancel Silvertown Tunnel and get around the table with residents, campaigners and councils to discuss alternatives fit for a greener London.”