Boris ditches bridge plans in green transport shake up

Boris Johnson has abandoned a controversial scheme to build another bridge across the Thames, which environmental campaigners claimed would increase congestion and pollution in the capital.

In an announcement earlier today, the London Mayor outlined his plans to boost the capacity of the capital's public transport network by almost 30 per cent as a means of cutting carbon emissions and driving economic growth during a recession.

"London is the engine of the UK economy and it is vital that we continue to invest in better transport during these times," said Johnson. "We will upgrade the Tube, build Crossrail, capture the legacy of the 2012 Games, and create thousands of jobs."

The commitments form part of a new 10-year transport plan that alongside improvements to the public transport network will also aim to boost cycling and walking levels.

However, alongside plans for increased investment Johnson also announced that he was ditching plans for a £500m bridge in East London called the Thames Gateway Bridge, which was widely criticised by environmental campaigners who claimed it would only serve to boost traffic levels.

Green group Friends of the Earth, welcomed the abandonment of the Thames Gateway bridge project, having previously criticised the mayor's support for the extra river crossing downstream from Tower Bridge.

Friends of the Earth London campaigner Jennifer Bates said Johnson was originally opposed to the bridge scheme, but shifted his position to one of " not ruling out" construction earlier this year, before finally deciding to abandon the scheme this week.

"New road space fills with new traffic, and a new bridge bringing traffic into London would encourage more traffic and increase congestion in the long term," she said.