Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
The Silvertown Tunnel has opened, and with it comes charges for the new tunnel alongside the Blackwall Tunnel too.
Charges apply daily from 6am until 10pm with the pricing as follows:
- Peak: £2.50 for motorbikes, £5.00 for cars and small vans if you use TfL AutoPay
- Off-peak: £1.50 for cars, motorbikes, and small vans if you use TfL AutoPay
The new tunnel has opened to help congestion and to make journeys quicker with less delays, with room to allow double-decker buses to cross the river.
If you ride a bicycle, there will also be an new Cycle Shuttle Service running every 12 minutes.
If you are local then there are also some discounts running:
- 50% off the charge for low-income residents in 12 boroughs south of the river
- Free bus travel across the river for at least one year on specific routes
- Exemptions are granted for taxis, Blue Badge holders, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, zero-emission private hire vehicles, NHS staff, and eligible patients.
Crazy News
A man is hoping to break the world record for the fastest person to run the London Marathon dressed as a traffic cone.
Participating in his 18th London Marathon since 1999, Michael Wiggins from Streatham is hoping to break the record which is just shy of three-and-a-half hours while raising money for Prostate Cancer UK.
His current running club (for which he is also secretary) also don the bright orange colour scheme found on traffic cones.
He has been training in the costume, so that he is ready for the big race on 27th April – he has since been confused for a carrot and a rocket.
His target is to raise at least £1,000 for the charity, and says: “If it saves one extra life, that's worth doing”.
Happy News
A vintage fair will include a carousel that was featured in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Dating back to 1893, Pride of the South has also featured in movies such as Half a Sixpence and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Speaking of the attraction making an appearance at Guernsey's 80th Liberation Day on 9th May, Deputy Sue Aldwell, from Education, Sport and Culture, said: "The Children's Zone will be a fantastic space for families to come together and enjoy a day filled with laughter, creativity and classic fairground fun. We can't wait to see the pier buzzing with families as we come together to celebrate this important milestone in Guernsey's history”.
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