This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition The Government to fund either a new bridge or repairs for Hammersmith bridge
Hammersmith bridge is now shut to pedestrians as well as vehicles and cyclists it’s impacting on many lives. We need the government to step in a fix the bridge, or build a new one and we need a temporary one to allow pedestrians and cyclists to get across.
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School children can’t get to their schools easily either side now, workers are unable to get across it’s an additional 30-60 mins on people’s journeys. The pollution and traffic has risen in barnes, putney and Fulham due to re routed traffic. Local businesses are going under as footfall has died. The hospital is no longer accessible in emergencies. The government needs to step in to support the local community and councils.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 3 November 2020
The Government wants to make sure that Londoners can move round the capital easily, on public transport, through active travel and on our roads.
Read the response in full
As part of that, the Government wants to see Hammersmith Bridge opened as soon as safely possible, so that – at a minimum – people can cycle and walk across the river, and in time return the bridge to full use.
To help the responsible authorities, TfL and H&F council, find a speedy resolution to the situation, the Secretary of State established a taskforce to bring together the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, TfL and the Ports Authority to assess and progress next steps of the project. To aid the task force, the Department for Transport has appointed Dana Skelley OBE as Project Director, who as former principal engineer for London brings a breadth of experience to the work of the task force and will drive action. The Department has also commissioned its own engineering advice on the Bridge’s state of repair.
The Government continues to have discussions with stakeholders on all relevant matters concerning the bridge, including funding, recognising that the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the Bridge. The Government and Taskforce continues to consider all interim measures, to ensure that Londoners are able to quickly and safely cross the river.
The Department continues to work with local groups and stakeholders to consider all options available to help deliver an immediate solution – including any temporary measures that can be brought in to help with local traffic.
Department for Transport
This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/549607)
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Original Government response
The Government wants to see Hammersmith Bridge opened as soon as safely possible, so that – at a minimum – people can cycle and walk across. We have established a group to determine the next steps.
The Government wants to make sure that Londoners can move round the capital easily, on public transport, through active travel and on our roads. As part of that, the Government wants to see Hammersmith Bridge opened as soon as safely possible, so that – at a minimum – people can cycle and walk across the river, and in time return the bridge to full use.
To help find a speedy resolution to the situation, the Government has established a Taskforce – led by Baroness Vere – to bring together the two Councils, TfL and the Ports Authority to assess and determine next steps. To aid the Taskforce, the Department for Transport has commissioned its own engineering advice on the Bridge’s state of repair.
The Department will also continue to work with local groups and stakeholders to consider all the options available to help deliver an immediate solution – including any temporary measures that can be brought in to help with local traffic.
Department for Transport
This response was given on 18 September 2020. The Petitions Committee then requested a revised response, that more directly addressed the request of the petition.
MPs to debate funding for the restoration of Hammersmith Bridge
MPs will debate funding for the restoration of Hammersmith Bridge on Wednesday 14 April in the main House of Commons chamber. This is an Adjournment debate, determined by the Speaker.
Adjournment debates are half-hour debates at the end of each day's sitting. They are an opportunity for an individual backbench MP to raise an issue and receive a response from the relevant Minister, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
The debate will start at around 7.00pm, after the conclusion of debate on public health and coronavirus regulations.
Watch here on Thursday: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/efc1bcaa-ba4b-4013-bada-cefe0bb79a93
You'll be able to read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it happens: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-04-14
Find out more about how Adjournment debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/adjournment/