London mayor urged to halt Silvertown tunnel scheme at 11th hour

Anti-pollution protesters lay flowers outside the offices of the Silvertown tunnel contractor, Macquarie, in London in October last year. Photograph: Martin Pope/Getty Images

The mayor of London is being urged to make an 11th hour intervention and halt plans for a new four-lane road tunnel under the River Thames that opponents say would worsen pollution and exacerbate the climate crisis.

Tunnelling equipment is on site on the banks of the Thames, and work on the £2bn Silvertown tunnel is due to start in the coming weeks.