Tower Bridge: drivers urged to turn off engines while boats pass

The Tower Bridge anti-idling campaign – a joint initiative by Southwark and Tower Hamlets councils – is one of a number of projects to be backed by the Mayor of London's Air Quality Fund.

"This is all about helping local people to take forward projects that they know will help tackle the most polluted parts of their neighbourhoods," said Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, who has awarded £100,000 to the Tower Bridge project.

"The more we work together to tackle air quality, the bigger the potential impact, and this funding will be used to make a real improvement."

The two councils will install variable message signs on roads leading to the bridge which will tell drivers how long they are likely to wait when the bridge is raised.

The signs will urge drivers to switch off their engines while they wait for the bascules to be lowered and the bridge to be reopened to road traffic.