Richmond Council is set to bid for £2 million in funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) to preserve Richmond Bridge, London's oldest surviving bridge over the River Thames. The Grade I listed structure, completed in 1777 during the reign of King George III and the American War of Independence, connects Richmond town centre to East Twickenham.
Preventative maintenance to avoid costly repairs
Council officers have confirmed there are no structural concerns about the bridge, but they aim to carry out upgrades now to extend its lifespan and prevent more expensive repairs in the future. Nick O'Donnell, Richmond's Director of Growth and Place, told the council's Transport Committee on June 9 that the bridge is 'in reasonable state, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with it, but there are investments that we'd like to make to strengthen, improve and overall enhance the maintenance aspect of the bridge that would help it last a lot longer'.
Funding application details
The authority plans to apply for cash from the DfT's new fund for maintaining and improving bridges up to 2030. While the exact amount has not been confirmed, it is expected to be around £2 million. The council has already carried out smaller-scale works in recent years, including resurfacing the bridge last year and major works to Teddington Lock footbridges.
Lib Dem councillor Alexander Ehmann supported the proactive approach, stating: 'It's very much in keeping with the type of investment we've made in Teddington Lock footbridge structures, which is that we're not going to wait until something is structurally at risk until we invest in it.' He added that the bridge's condition is 'assessed to be perfectly acceptable at the moment, but we would just like to give it a longer life and give it more structural integrity over that life.'
The council expects to submit the application this month, with successful bids announced in autumn. Richmond Bridge, built between 1774 and 1777, is recognised by the London Museum as the 'oldest surviving Thames bridge in London'.
