Deal struck to fix Woolwich foot tunnel lift

Work to repair the northern lift of the 112-year-old foot tunnel should be completed by January

An agreement to repair a lift in a tunnel linking two London boroughs on either side of the River Thames has been reached.

The northern lift of the Woolwich foot tunnel, which runs from Old Woolwich in Greenwich to North Woolwich in Newham, has been out of service since August 2022.

Despite having equal financial responsibility for the 112-year-old tunnel, the two councils had previously been unable to strike a deal.

A Greenwich Council spokesperson said: "Following a productive meeting with colleagues from Newham Council on 31 July, we have reached an agreement to share costs."

Now an agreement has been reached, as first reported by the Greenwich Wire, the work should be completed by January.

The tunnel is open 24 hours day, seven days a week and is used by an estimated 300,000 pedestrians and cyclists each year.

Both the north and south entrances, built by London County Council and opened in October 1912, are Grade II listed buildings.

A Newham Council spokesperson said: "We are pleased to be working in collaboration with the London borough of Greenwich to repair the lift, we are currently finalising a funding agreement."