A foot tunnel used to cross the Thames has been closed a staggering 19 times in 30 days alone. NINA MASSEY experiences the inconvenience herself.

News Shopper: Greenwich Foot Tunnel stage 1 When I arrived at the first stage of my journey to cross the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, it was closed. A simple sign reading ‘tunnel closed’ was on the door. Frustrated tunnel users had scrawled on the sign asking for more information.

It read: “Please could you notify us on the web in advance and give the telephone number here to call and find out.”

News Shopper: Greenwich Foot Tunnel stage 2 I set out to cross the river using the Thames Clipper service. Not only did this cost me £2.20 (discounted rate with a valid travel card), but the next boat was not for 15 minutes.

This meant hanging around on the pier for longer than it would have taken me to cross the tunnel by foot.

News Shopper: Greenwich Foot Tunnel stage 3 On the Clipper. A pleasant enough experience, but I had no idea how the service worked. When passengers were asked if there was anyone for Masthouse Terrace, I proceeded to shout out a very undignified “yes”.

News Shopper: Greenwich Foot Tunnel stage 4 After a boat ride of four minutes and 10 seconds, I had made it to the other side. Now I had to find my way to where I had originally wanted to be, the tunnel’s northern entrance.

This was an 11 minute and 39 second walk away.

News Shopper: Greenwich Foot Tunnel stage 5 I arrived at the northside of the tunnel hoping to be able to make the return journey by foot, via the tunnel. Unfortunately it was still closed. I went back another day to find out how long it took.

What some tunnel users had to say

News Shopper: Fiona Blair Fiona Blair, 47, Bruford Court, Deptford “I can take my bike on the DLR because it folds up. But other cyclists who don’t have collapsible bikes can’t.

“They would have to take the Clipper which costs £5.50 at full price and only admits 10 cyclists per boat.”

She added: “We pay council tax for services like the tunnel to work.”

Steve Parsons, 37, Cyclist from Granville Park, Lewisham “I use the Clippers regularly to get to work. Whenever the tunnel is closed there are a lot more cyclists queuing up to get on a boat.

“They only allow a set amount on at a time, so there have been occasions when I have been late for work because I’ve had to get the next service. Closures need to be communicated better.”

A statement from Greenwich Council

A spokesman for Greenwich Council said: “Regrettably, the current lifts at the Greenwich tunnel have recently experienced a high frequency of breakdowns. Because the stairs are undergoing refurbishment, there is no alternative, when a lift breaks down, other than to close the tunnel until the lift can be repaired.

“Greenwich Council apologises for the inconvenience caused to users. We wish to stress that this is very much a temporary situation with the newly refurbished stairs expected to reopen within the next few weeks."

Journey time

Foot Tunnel journey time:

- 4 minutes 52 seconds

Thames Clipper Journey Time:

-Wait for next service, 15 minutes -Greenwich Pier to Masthouse Terrace Pier, 4minutes 10 seconds -Walk from Masthouse Terrace Pier to the tunnel’s northern entrance, 11 minutes 39 seconds.

TOTAL JOURNEY TIME: 30 Minutes, 49 seconds.

This is 25 minutes and 57 seconds longer than it took me to walk through the tunnel.

Details about the Foot tunnel and its unplanned closures.

Greenwich Foot Tunnel was opened in August 1902. It is 1,217 feet long and 50 feet below the River Thames.

As part of current renewal and repair work it is closed in the evening from 9pm to 6am and is open all weekend.

However, according to a Greenwich council Twitter feed, the route has had to close without warning 19 times in the past month.