Wandsworth Council has declined to support a funding bid aimed at keeping Hammersmith Bridge open for pedestrians, cyclists, and river traffic, following the announcement that plans to fully reopen the bridge to vehicles have been shelved. The decision was confirmed in a letter from Wandsworth's Conservative administration to Hammersmith and Fulham Council, which owns the Grade II* listed structure.
The bid, submitted to the Government's £1 billion Structures Fund, requests £128 million for essential repairs. However, Wandsworth's new leader, Robert Morritt, stated that the proposal falls short of what residents and businesses in the area and across London expect. The bridge has been closed to vehicles since April 2019, when micro-fractures were discovered in its cast iron pedestals, indicating a risk of catastrophic collapse.
Background and Funding Challenges
Hammersmith and Fulham Council had initially sought £300 million to fully restore the bridge, but a report by council officers indicated that the Department for Transport (DfT) recommended a phased repair approach instead. This approach would keep the bridge open for pedestrians, cyclists, and river traffic but would not allow for vehicle access. The council announced in July that there was no financial option available for full restoration, which would essentially require building a brand-new bridge.
The Structures Fund criteria also stipulate that eligible schemes must reach completion by March 31, 2030, a timeline that does not accommodate full restoration. Hammersmith and Fulham wrote to neighbouring authorities seeking stakeholder support for its bid, but Wandsworth rejected the request.
Political Dispute and Reactions
In his letter, Councillor Morritt expressed disappointment, stating that the bid was "well short of what the vast majority of residents and businesses in the immediate area and across London would like to see." He voiced support for alternative plans designed by architects Foster and Partners, announced in 2020, which proposed a temporary double-decker crossing to allow vehicles to use the bridge during repairs. Pedestrians would use the lower deck, and cars would use the upper level.
Councillor Morritt wrote: "This key crossing has been closed to full operation for over seven years now and expecting partners to be satisfied it will remain shut to motor vehicles for a likely further decade is not tolerable." Conservative councillor Nick Austin, cabinet member for travel, added: "In 2019, Fleur Anderson MP campaigned in Putney on a platform that national government should foot the bill for repairing Hammersmith Bridge. Seven years on, Labour run every level of government - Hammersmith and Fulham Council, City Hall, and national government - so if Labour wanted to reopen the bridge, they could. The Conservatives will not support any bid that does not reopen Hammersmith Bridge to all modes of transport."
In response, Hammersmith and Fulham councillor Nicole Trehy, cabinet member for travel, called the rejection a "matter of deep regret," accusing Wandsworth of playing "political games." She noted that Wandsworth's letter arrived two days after the deadline for Structures Fund submissions and did not offer any financial contribution or acknowledge the £54 million Hammersmith and Fulham has already spent on maintaining the structure.
Impact and Next Steps
Councillor Trehy warned that if the bid is unsuccessful, the bridge could close to everyone within 12 months. She said: "Wandsworth’s new leadership has completely missed the point that these works are essential to keep the bridge open safely for pedestrians and cyclists, regardless of any longer-term debate about motor vehicles. If the bid is not successful, the bridge is likely to have to close to everyone within 12 months. We would much rather work constructively with Wandsworth and our other neighbours to secure the future of the bridge. Briefing against this funding bid risks exactly the opposite outcome - the complete closure of Hammersmith Bridge, including to Wandsworth residents who rely on it."
The bridge, built in 1887, is one of the world's oldest suspension bridges. It reopened to pedestrians, cyclists, and river traffic in July 2021. The Government struck a deal with TfL in 2021 to split repair costs three ways with Hammersmith and Fulham, but the council maintains it is still owed money from TfL and the DfT. An announcement on the success of the £128 million bid is expected in autumn.
