A Kent MP is calling on the Mayor of London to extend his plans to offer concessions for the Silvertown Tunnel to include residents further south of the River Thames.

Jim Dickson (Lab) who represents Dartford, says it is unfair for Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (Tfl) to propose a discount for people in the London boroughs near the tunnel while ignoring those who live close to it in Kent, particularly Dartford residents.

In July, TfL launched an eight-week consultation, which finished on Tuesday, September 3, on the level of charges for the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels.

The Blackwall Tunnel runs from North Greenwich to Blackwall. The new underwater route will connect the Greenwich Peninsula on the eastern side with Silvertown, which is near London City Airport on the opposite side of the River Thames.

In Mr Dickson’s submitted proposal he is calling for the 50% discount for low-income drivers and £1 discount for small businesses and charities to include those in Dartford rather than just neighbouring London boroughs.

He said: “Dartford residents and all those living either side of the River Thames will welcome the opening of an additional river crossing in the form of the Silvertown Tunnel.

“The crossings will undoubtedly contribute to easing of congestion in the areas around both the Blackwall and the new Silvertown tunnels as well as across southeast London and beyond.

“The many problems with overcapacity at current Thames crossings and the slow progress in creating new ones are issues that are very well known to Dartford residents and those living along the Thames east of London.”

But he is unhappy about the concession guidelines proposed by the Mayor.

He said: “It is my view it is important that TfL considers an extension of the same concessions to be received by Londoners to include those within a close geographical radius outside London.

“However, if this were not possible an additional tier of discounts for those otherwise meeting qualifying criteria but living outside the immediate area should be introduced.”

He added: “The lack of discounts for charities and SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] will particularly affect the livelihoods of small businesses and sole traders.”

Mr Dickson has put forward a few suggestions, including: a 25-50% discount for qualifying low-income vehicles of residents living in Kent near the border with London; 50p-£1 discount on the standard off-peak charge for small businesses and charities in Kent near the border with London; confirmation that the 100% discount for Blue Badge holders and wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles applies equally to non-London as well as London households; and confirmation that the exemption also applies to all vehicles in the disabled tax class irrespective of geography.

Christina Calderato, director of strategy at TfL, said: “We recently carried out an eight-week consultation on our user charging scheme, so Londoners could have their say on the proposed charge levels and wide range of discounts and exemptions.

"This proposed package of supporting measures aims to ensure the scheme is green and fair for Londoners and businesses.

“These measures will ensure that the new tunnel delivers on its objectives of reducing congestion and providing resilience at the Blackwall Tunnel, while ensuring we support local residents on low income, small businesses, sole traders and local charities.”

The initial Tfl scheme is proposing that car journeys at peak times – weekdays between 6am and 10am Londonbound or between 4pm and 7pm coastbound – will cost £4, affecting Kent drivers heading in and out of the capital.

Under the plans, journeys at any time of day paid for by other methods will also incur a £4 charge, but Auto Pay users will be charged £1.50 for off-peak journeys.

To deliver the benefits of the new Silvertown Tunnel and cover the construction costs, charges will apply to both the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels.

Construction of the the tunnel is expected to be completed in spring next year.

It was first proposed in 2012 and is hoped it will reduce severe congestion at the nearby Blackwall Tunnel, which is currently free to use.