‘Labour can not even reopen a bridge within the capital; what hope is there for initiatives throughout the remainder of the nation?’
What’s the future for this historic bridge? (Picture: Getty)
Labour has been accused of failing a “check of competence” and pressing solutions at the moment are demanded about one of many nation’s most iconic bridges. Taxpayers face a multimillion-pound invoice and it’s revealed a job power launched ito rescue London’s Hammersmith Bridge has met simply as soon as on Labour’s watch.
The bridge closed to motor autos in April 2019 and the council acknowledged in a Freedom of Data response final month that the entire price thus far of repairs has hit £54.7million an £240million might be required to finish the work.
The crossing, one of many world’s oldest suspension bridges, was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and opened in June 1887. In February, transport minister Simon Lightwood revealed that the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce had met simply as soon as since Labour got here to energy, in January 2025.
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden and Jose Afonso, the chief of the Conservative group on the council, have penned a joint letter to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, calling on her to publish a “funding technique and anticipated timelines”.
They describe the current state of affairs as “deeply regarding” and warn that “residents have proven endurance for lengthy sufficient”, including: “The estimated price of completion is £240million. Tens of thousands and thousands of kilos have already been spent, and an extra quarter of a billion kilos could also be required, but the first coordinating physique chargeable for unblocking progress has met solely as soon as in over a 12 months. Hammersmith Bridge is a Grade II listed construction and a important river crossing that has now been closed to motor visitors for almost seven years. Residents, companies, emergency providers and commuters proceed to bear the results of extended disruption. The stabilisation section is nearing completion, and choices concerning strengthening and full reopening are each advanced and time-sensitive. That is exactly the stage at which energetic coordination between stakeholders is important.”
A Authorities insider performed down the significance of the duty power, saying what the bridge “wants is money”.
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However the Conservatives’ Mr Holden stated: “That is emblematic of a Division for Transport that has misplaced its means to ship even essentially the most fundamental infrastructure initiatives. Tens of thousands and thousands of kilos have already been spent on Hammersmith Bridge, with a whole bunch of thousands and thousands extra doubtlessly required, but progress has stalled. It is a check of competence, and it’s being failed. Labour can not even reopen a bridge within the capital; what hope is there for initiatives throughout the remainder of the nation?”
A Division for Transport spokesperson stated: “We now have supplied £17million to maintain the bridge open for strolling and biking, and can proceed to work carefully with the council and Transport for London as we think about future funding via our new Constructions Fund. We think about the Hammersmith Bridge to be a superb candidate for the Constructions Fund, and the Taskforce will meet once more as soon as funding preparations for the Constructions Fund have been confirmed.”
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