Mayor Ducks O2 Cable Car Questions

London Mayor Boris Johnson successfully ducked questions about the funding for the cable car link between London’s Royal Docks and The O2 arena, after Labour councilors learned that some of the cash will need to come from the public purse.

Johnson originally said the cost of the £25 million cable crossing that would link both banks of the River Thames would come from the private sector. It now appears that The London Assembly – the part of the Greater London Authority that watches the city’s purse strings – is being asked to front some of the money.

His main defense during the last Lord Mayor’s Question Time before Christmas was to point out the cable car is a much better deal for the city than the £500 million, six-lane road bridge that had failed to win the approval of local residents.

The cable cars – similar to the systems used in New York, Hamburg and Cologne – would be capable of carrying up to 2,500 passengers an hour in each direction and travel 50 metres above water, well above the height of any shipping.

The five-minute route would take people from near The O2 arena in Greenwich to the ExCel exhibition centre, both of which are to be Olympic venues.

Johnson’s cash call comes because he wants to ensure the project is hastened along for completion in time for the 2012 Games.

“A cable car spanning the majestic Thames would not only provide a unique and pioneering addition to London’s skyline, but also offer a serene and joyful journey across the river,” Johnson explained when the project was first presented. “Passengers would be able to drink in the truly spectacular views of the Olympic park and iconic London landmarks whilst shaving valuable minutes from their traveling time. It would also provide a much-needed enhancement of cross-river options to the east of the city.”