12,000 drivers a day are avoiding Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls, TfL reveals
Carl Eddleston, Director of Streets and Network Operations at TfL added: 'Although it is still early days, the initial data we are seeing shows that the new Silvertown Tunnel, supported by user charges, has already helped reduced congestion around the Blackwall Tunnel and improved cross-river public transport, with thousands of Londoners using the new, free bus services the tunnel facilitates.
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The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Brits are giving away up to £29 billion worth of work a year
For someone in full-time employment, who works an average of 233 days per year and based on the average full-time salary, this is effectively £1,012 worth of time annually they're forgoing. Nearly half (46 per cent) say this is because they have 'too much work to do', with other reasons identified as feeling pressured to go back to work (23 per cent) and not seeing the point because they don't have enough time to go anywhere (21 per cent). And more than a third (35 per cent) deemed their lunchbreaks 'too short' – with the average amount of time given to them during a workday only 39 minutes. To give working Brits back their afternoon breaks, bakery brand, St Pierre, set up a 'respect zone' in Potter's Field Park – paying homage to the sacred lunchbreak and urging Londoners to 'eat avec respect'. It has been designed to transport lunch-breakers to Paris, encouraging workers to 'do as les Français' – who are notorious for making the most of their slow-paced and leisurely lunches. A spokesperson from the brand said: 'Lunchbreaks shouldn't be a luxury – and especially not something we feel pressured to forego. 'Even though life is busy and work is important, we need to remember to take time out for ourselves to really get that break we need – and go back to work energised, refreshed, and satisfied by a delicious meal we were able to properly savour.' This is clearly needed, as 22 per cent believe we don't respect our midday meal enough in this country, especially compared to others in Europe – with Spain (33 per cent), Italy (28 per cent), and France (27 per cent) the most enviable. Respect was also missing from their employers' attitudes towards this sacred time according to 23 per cent, with four in 10 declaring employers should encourage all staff to take their full lunchbreaks. But even when those polled do manage to take time for a midday meal, over half (51 per cent) often do something work-related, such as checking emails or answering calls. This may be because 52 per cent admitted they tend to stay at their desks during lunch, even if not doing work – with a popular alternative being mindlessly scrolling through social media (42 per cent). And of those who do work through this period, over a fifth (22 per cent) admitted they would find it hard to break the unhealthy habit if they were given the chance. This revelation comes despite 37 per cent agreeing regularly not taking a lunchbreak can lead to burnout and can negatively affect work performance (28 per cent). As a result of these non-existent lunchbreaks, food choices also suffer – with 42 per cent rating them as 'average', or worse, according to data. The phenomenon also leads to lunchtime being a solitary affair in the UK, with 38 per cent revealing they typically spend this time alone, despite just under half (46 per cent) saying they would enjoy this time much more if they ate with others. St. Pierre's spokesperson added: 'It's a sad state of affairs that our main break during a long day of work isn't really being treated as one – and that we can't seem to switch off even when given permission. 'There's something to be learned from the French here – taking that moment to really unwind and enjoy a delicious meal, without thinking about other things. 'We're also missing a prime opportunity in our everyday lives to connect with other people over good food and conversation.'
North Wales Chronicle
6 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Sir Sadiq Khan urged to seek higher taxes and parking fees for SUVs
London Assembly Members agreed a motion calling on the mayor to take action because of fears that the increasing size of cars is damaging road surfaces, causing congestion and putting other road users at greater risk of death and serious injury. The London Assembly called on Sir Sadiq to ask the Treasury to amend vehicle excise duty to include a tax based on vehicle weight. It also wants the mayor to request that councils in the capital consider charging more for parking larger cars, and to call on the Department for Transport to introduce tighter limits on the size and bonnet height of passenger vehicles. The motion was agreed by 14 votes in favour and eight votes against. SUVs have grown in popularity in recent years, with many drivers favouring their higher seating position. They accounted for a third of all new car registrations in the UK last year, compared with just 12% a decade earlier. SUVs are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient. The increase in the size of cars has been described as carspreading. Labour London Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, said the capital's streets 'weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs'. She went on: 'Their greater size, weight, and higher bonnets put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads. 'It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for everyone.' But AA president Edmund King insisted it is 'up to Londoners to choose the type of vehicle that best fulfils their needs'. He added: 'It is not really the role of the London Assembly to dictate what cars individuals should drive. 'Some larger families may well need bigger vehicles with more passenger seats, whereas a driver conducting most trips alone may well choose a city car. 'London's streets were developed around the horse and cart, so of course our infrastructure needs modernising to keep up with change.' A recent study found pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV or similar-sized vehicle rather than a traditional car. The analysis produced by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London stated that the figure rises to 82% for children.
Leader Live
7 hours ago
- Leader Live
Sir Sadiq Khan urged to seek higher taxes and parking fees for SUVs
London Assembly Members agreed a motion calling on the mayor to take action because of fears that the increasing size of cars is damaging road surfaces, causing congestion and putting other road users at greater risk of death and serious injury. The London Assembly called on Sir Sadiq to ask the Treasury to amend vehicle excise duty to include a tax based on vehicle weight. It also wants the mayor to request that councils in the capital consider charging more for parking larger cars, and to call on the Department for Transport to introduce tighter limits on the size and bonnet height of passenger vehicles. The motion was agreed by 14 votes in favour and eight votes against. SUVs have grown in popularity in recent years, with many drivers favouring their higher seating position. They accounted for a third of all new car registrations in the UK last year, compared with just 12% a decade earlier. SUVs are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient. The increase in the size of cars has been described as carspreading. Labour London Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, said the capital's streets 'weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs'. She went on: 'Their greater size, weight, and higher bonnets put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads. 'It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for everyone.' But AA president Edmund King insisted it is 'up to Londoners to choose the type of vehicle that best fulfils their needs'. He added: 'It is not really the role of the London Assembly to dictate what cars individuals should drive. 'Some larger families may well need bigger vehicles with more passenger seats, whereas a driver conducting most trips alone may well choose a city car. 'London's streets were developed around the horse and cart, so of course our infrastructure needs modernising to keep up with change.' A recent study found pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV or similar-sized vehicle rather than a traditional car. The analysis produced by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London stated that the figure rises to 82% for children.
