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London's garden bridge: will 'tiara on the head of fabulous city' ever be built? London's garden bridge: will 'tiara on the head of fabulous city' ever be built?
(3 months later)
Two years ago, when Joanna Lumley launched the fundraising campaign for her cherished idea of a garden bridge across the Thames – a concept she had touted for more than a decade – she said it would be seen as “a gift to the people of London”.Two years ago, when Joanna Lumley launched the fundraising campaign for her cherished idea of a garden bridge across the Thames – a concept she had touted for more than a decade – she said it would be seen as “a gift to the people of London”.
But local political opposition is mounting. Its critics include councillors and the MP representing the south landing site, plus the leaders of all four parties on the Greater London Assembly (GLA) at a time when the costs of the proposed pedestrian bridge continue to rise.But local political opposition is mounting. Its critics include councillors and the MP representing the south landing site, plus the leaders of all four parties on the Greater London Assembly (GLA) at a time when the costs of the proposed pedestrian bridge continue to rise.
Andrew Boff, who leads the Conservative groups on the GLA, calls the project “the wrong bridge in the wrong place”, despite being from the same party as the outgoing London mayor, Boris Johnson, a garden bridge supporter.Andrew Boff, who leads the Conservative groups on the GLA, calls the project “the wrong bridge in the wrong place”, despite being from the same party as the outgoing London mayor, Boris Johnson, a garden bridge supporter.
“I, for the life of me, can’t see what it adds,” Boff said. “If we want to add a tourist spot to London I’m not against that, but just be intelligent about it. Put it somewhere where people aren’t currently going. Don’t put it somewhere where there’s already loads of people.“I, for the life of me, can’t see what it adds,” Boff said. “If we want to add a tourist spot to London I’m not against that, but just be intelligent about it. Put it somewhere where people aren’t currently going. Don’t put it somewhere where there’s already loads of people.
“In the long term the garden bridge is just another thing to plant and worry about. For the amount of money that’s being invested in it, it doesn’t seem to solve any problems, it just creates them.”“In the long term the garden bridge is just another thing to plant and worry about. For the amount of money that’s being invested in it, it doesn’t seem to solve any problems, it just creates them.”
The first mooted bill for the bridge, reported in 2002, was £19m. By 2013 the sum had reached £60m. It is now likely to cost at least £175m, with £115m to come from private donors, £30m of which has yet to be raised. The balance is to come from public funds.The first mooted bill for the bridge, reported in 2002, was £19m. By 2013 the sum had reached £60m. It is now likely to cost at least £175m, with £115m to come from private donors, £30m of which has yet to be raised. The balance is to come from public funds.
Of the MPs whose constituencies take in either side of the structure, Labour’s Kate Hoey, on the south, is a vehement opponent. Even Mark Field, the Tory MP on the north, who supports the scheme, said he had “a little bit of sympathy for the argument that if you put this much public money into a bridge it should be further eastwards”.Of the MPs whose constituencies take in either side of the structure, Labour’s Kate Hoey, on the south, is a vehement opponent. Even Mark Field, the Tory MP on the north, who supports the scheme, said he had “a little bit of sympathy for the argument that if you put this much public money into a bridge it should be further eastwards”.
Bee Emmott, executive director of the Garden Bridge Trust – previously head of special projects for Heatherwick’s studio – said a mixed political reaction was expected: “It’s an ambitious and innovative project, and these projects often divide opinion.”Bee Emmott, executive director of the Garden Bridge Trust – previously head of special projects for Heatherwick’s studio – said a mixed political reaction was expected: “It’s an ambitious and innovative project, and these projects often divide opinion.”
Related: London garden bridge users to have mobile phone signals tracked
She added: “There’s a strong transport case for this bridge. There are strong economic benefits, both north and south. There are huge benefits to this project, and much bigger, wider benefits than just in the nearby location. It’s important to remember that.”She added: “There’s a strong transport case for this bridge. There are strong economic benefits, both north and south. There are huge benefits to this project, and much bigger, wider benefits than just in the nearby location. It’s important to remember that.”
The next few months are crunch time for the Thomas Heatherwick-designed scheme, originally proposed by Lumley in 1999 as the “Diana bridge”, a tribute to the late Princess of Wales. It is intended to run 367 metres from the South Bank to Temple, featuring 270 trees and thousands of plants.The next few months are crunch time for the Thomas Heatherwick-designed scheme, originally proposed by Lumley in 1999 as the “Diana bridge”, a tribute to the late Princess of Wales. It is intended to run 367 metres from the South Bank to Temple, featuring 270 trees and thousands of plants.
Delayed preparatory work is due to begin in the spring, with actual construction from the summer, and a planned 2018 opening date. But before this happens the Garden Bridge Trust, which still has Lumley on its board, must overcome a series of obstacles, not least a convoluted and still far from complete planning process and raising the remaining money.Delayed preparatory work is due to begin in the spring, with actual construction from the summer, and a planned 2018 opening date. But before this happens the Garden Bridge Trust, which still has Lumley on its board, must overcome a series of obstacles, not least a convoluted and still far from complete planning process and raising the remaining money.
Opponents argue that the proposed central London location is already well-served by bridges and full to bursting with tourists, unlike further east along the Thames. Why, they ask, spend scarce public money on something that is both superfluous as a transport link and vastly expensive as a park?Opponents argue that the proposed central London location is already well-served by bridges and full to bursting with tourists, unlike further east along the Thames. Why, they ask, spend scarce public money on something that is both superfluous as a transport link and vastly expensive as a park?
His views are shared by the GLA’s Liberal Democrats and Greens. Len Duvall, head of the Labour group, is somewhat less critical but has questioned the tendering process by which Heatherwick’s company was picked, and describes the bridge as being “of questionable public transport merit”.His views are shared by the GLA’s Liberal Democrats and Greens. Len Duvall, head of the Labour group, is somewhat less critical but has questioned the tendering process by which Heatherwick’s company was picked, and describes the bridge as being “of questionable public transport merit”.
Related: London garden bridge plans under threat as councillors revolt
Plenty of others disagree, and the Garden Bridge Trust points to surveys giving strong public support. Transport for London, meanwhile, insists the mainly private funding model makes the bridge value for money, and argues the huge growth in people working in the area makes a new pedestrian bridge necessary, a complement to a series of crossings also planned further east.Plenty of others disagree, and the Garden Bridge Trust points to surveys giving strong public support. Transport for London, meanwhile, insists the mainly private funding model makes the bridge value for money, and argues the huge growth in people working in the area makes a new pedestrian bridge necessary, a complement to a series of crossings also planned further east.
Either way, it is certainly unusual as a pedestrian bridge, with its tracking of mobile phone signals to avoid overcrowding and rules enforced by “visitor hosts” with legal powers to fine people or demand their identity.Either way, it is certainly unusual as a pedestrian bridge, with its tracking of mobile phone signals to avoid overcrowding and rules enforced by “visitor hosts” with legal powers to fine people or demand their identity.
Construction work has already been delayed – initial work was due to begin in the new year – and an internal Lambeth council report on the project from October warned that the bridge trust could face financial penalties from contractors if the timetable slipped further, as well as potential worry among donors.Construction work has already been delayed – initial work was due to begin in the new year – and an internal Lambeth council report on the project from October warned that the bridge trust could face financial penalties from contractors if the timetable slipped further, as well as potential worry among donors.
On both the north and south ends of the bridge there are still eight planning conditions to be met before any work can begin. In Lambeth. there is also open rebellion from some councillors on the ruling Labour group who are trying to call in the project for further scrutiny, which could halt it for weeks.On both the north and south ends of the bridge there are still eight planning conditions to be met before any work can begin. In Lambeth. there is also open rebellion from some councillors on the ruling Labour group who are trying to call in the project for further scrutiny, which could halt it for weeks.
More convoluted still is that the final decision is not even the Lambeth’s. The relevant patch of land on the South Bank was leased by the council 30 years ago to Coin Street, a cooperative housing group that must approve the change in the lease to permit the bridge.More convoluted still is that the final decision is not even the Lambeth’s. The relevant patch of land on the South Bank was leased by the council 30 years ago to Coin Street, a cooperative housing group that must approve the change in the lease to permit the bridge.
Related: Garden Bridge: alternative ideas for 'A Folly for London' announced
A number of Coin Street residents have pressured their organisation to scupper the project. Iain Tuckett, Coin Street’s executive director, said there seems little choice but to accede to a scheme backed by elected politicians, but stressed he was aware of and empathised with the concerns of local residents.A number of Coin Street residents have pressured their organisation to scupper the project. Iain Tuckett, Coin Street’s executive director, said there seems little choice but to accede to a scheme backed by elected politicians, but stressed he was aware of and empathised with the concerns of local residents.
What next for what Lumley called, somewhat hopefully, “the tiara on the head of our fabulous city”? Emmott insisted she was confident construction would go ahead, talking of a series of new donors about to be announced.What next for what Lumley called, somewhat hopefully, “the tiara on the head of our fabulous city”? Emmott insisted she was confident construction would go ahead, talking of a series of new donors about to be announced.
There is an argument, however, that even if construction begins, it will be just the start of the garden bridge saga. Such projects have a habit of costing more than expected, as with the nearby and much-delayed Tate Modern extension, currently £45m over budget.There is an argument, however, that even if construction begins, it will be just the start of the garden bridge saga. Such projects have a habit of costing more than expected, as with the nearby and much-delayed Tate Modern extension, currently £45m over budget.
The bridge’s annual running costs are estimated at £2.8m, a sum the trust aims to raise through donations and the corporate events that will close the bridge for 12 nights a year. However, Johnson announced in June that he would guarantee this sum from public money in perpetuity.The bridge’s annual running costs are estimated at £2.8m, a sum the trust aims to raise through donations and the corporate events that will close the bridge for 12 nights a year. However, Johnson announced in June that he would guarantee this sum from public money in perpetuity.
Boff is confident more public money will end up being spent. “I don’t relish having so sit through the disasters that will come forward as we realise we have to pay even more money for it, because that’s inevitably what will happen,” he said. “There’s no reason to believe it will be any different from the Olympic stadium, which we’re now shovelling taxpayer money into in order to get it going.Boff is confident more public money will end up being spent. “I don’t relish having so sit through the disasters that will come forward as we realise we have to pay even more money for it, because that’s inevitably what will happen,” he said. “There’s no reason to believe it will be any different from the Olympic stadium, which we’re now shovelling taxpayer money into in order to get it going.
“This is going to be a white elephant, and it’s going to be a while elephant that gets to the point of where it gets built and you can’t justify knocking it down. Then you have to justify carrying on funding it. It’s not a choice after a while. To knock the bridge down would be unacceptable for so many political careers. So they will have to find money from other budgets to keep the garden bridge going.”“This is going to be a white elephant, and it’s going to be a while elephant that gets to the point of where it gets built and you can’t justify knocking it down. Then you have to justify carrying on funding it. It’s not a choice after a while. To knock the bridge down would be unacceptable for so many political careers. So they will have to find money from other budgets to keep the garden bridge going.”
• This article was amended on 6 January 2016 to clarify a reference to planning conditions that need to be met before work can begin on the bridge.• This article was amended on 6 January 2016 to clarify a reference to planning conditions that need to be met before work can begin on the bridge.