Silvertown tunnel noise barrier plan in Greenwich submitted

Plans have been submitted for noise barriers to be installed on the northbound approach to both the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels.

A stretch of barrier will be placed near Westcombe Hill, Siebert Road and Invicta Road.

The northern stretch will be two metres rising to three metres in the south. Some residents requested a green wall though TfL rejected the idea and have gone for timber panels.

North of the river

Let’s hope the new stretches are less of an eyesore compared to those seen north of the river on the approaches to the Blackwall tunnel where different materials are in place.

Whether it’s Transport for London or the local council who are supposed to maintain them, no one clearly has done for many years.

Projects like this often fall into a void where neither TfL nor a council take responsibility.

South of the Thames and the road verges, for example, are the responsibility of Greenwich Council, while Highways control vary and confusion often reigns. Passing the buck is common.

Funding for the project is part of a mitigation fund for Greenwich Council which will see a very modest amount of funding for small-scale street projects.

Given the sheer impact on the borough from the £2.2 bn tunnel and additional traffic forecast from TfL in various area, funding allocated was less than £1 million for mitigation back in 2019. That’ll go even less far today.

The application can be viewed here.