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Opposition to River Thames garden bridge plan grows | Opposition to River Thames garden bridge plan grows |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A proposed "garden bridge" will span the Thames between Temple and the South Bank and is billed as a beautiful garden area with 270 trees. | A proposed "garden bridge" will span the Thames between Temple and the South Bank and is billed as a beautiful garden area with 270 trees. |
It has the high profile backing of the Mayor of London, actress Joanna Lumley and architect Thomas Heatherwick, who designed the new bus for London and the London Olympic cauldron. | It has the high profile backing of the Mayor of London, actress Joanna Lumley and architect Thomas Heatherwick, who designed the new bus for London and the London Olympic cauldron. |
But local opposition is growing to the project and some residents are not happy. | But local opposition is growing to the project and some residents are not happy. |
Petitions have been started to stop the bridge, as has a campaign called Thames Open Central Space. | Petitions have been started to stop the bridge, as has a campaign called Thames Open Central Space. |
The argument of some of those who live locally is the bridge is in the wrong place and is not needed. | The argument of some of those who live locally is the bridge is in the wrong place and is not needed. |
The detail within the planning application is also very interesting, as it reveals Temple Tube station would be shut for six months. | The detail within the planning application is also very interesting, as it reveals Temple Tube station would be shut for six months. |
More than 30 trees will be cut down and green space on the South Bank would be lost to house the bridge landing at Bernie Spain Gardens. | More than 30 trees will be cut down and green space on the South Bank would be lost to house the bridge landing at Bernie Spain Gardens. |
Campaigners say they are losing green space to build green space and this makes no sense. | Campaigners say they are losing green space to build green space and this makes no sense. |
The planning application estimates there would be 7.1 million visitors a year to the bridge or about 30,000 a day. | |
It will be open from 06:00 until midnight 365 days a year, but cyclists will not be able to use the bridge. | |
Overcrowding | Overcrowding |
The campaigners argue the South Bank already has plenty of tourists and the bridge would cause overcrowding. | The campaigners argue the South Bank already has plenty of tourists and the bridge would cause overcrowding. |
The City of London has also raised concerns about the protected views of St Paul's Cathedral, as the building could obscure the building from some sections of the South Bank. | The City of London has also raised concerns about the protected views of St Paul's Cathedral, as the building could obscure the building from some sections of the South Bank. |
There is also concern over the finances, as the cost to the public purse was meant to be low because most of the project was meant to be privately funded. | There is also concern over the finances, as the cost to the public purse was meant to be low because most of the project was meant to be privately funded. |
TfL agreed "enabling costs" of £4m, now the Mayor has announced TfL will pay £30m to the project and the Treasury will match that. | TfL agreed "enabling costs" of £4m, now the Mayor has announced TfL will pay £30m to the project and the Treasury will match that. |
But there is a get-out clause: "It is proposed that around £38m each will be provided by TfL and the government in the pre-contract phase; if the project does not proceed beyond the stage, this funding will be at risk." | But there is a get-out clause: "It is proposed that around £38m each will be provided by TfL and the government in the pre-contract phase; if the project does not proceed beyond the stage, this funding will be at risk." |
According to an executive summary for the Mayor in June 2014 the cost of the bridge was £159m, although recently in a report by the Guardian the total was announced as £175m. | According to an executive summary for the Mayor in June 2014 the cost of the bridge was £159m, although recently in a report by the Guardian the total was announced as £175m. |
In total over £100m will have to come from private donors and the bridge will cost £2.5m a year to run. | In total over £100m will have to come from private donors and the bridge will cost £2.5m a year to run. |
Caroline Pidgeon, from the Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly, says this follows a pattern from the Mayor where initially it is promised that not much public money will be used, but eventually TfL ends up footing the bill. | Caroline Pidgeon, from the Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly, says this follows a pattern from the Mayor where initially it is promised that not much public money will be used, but eventually TfL ends up footing the bill. |
The accusation is the same thing that happened before with hire bikes scheme and the cable car. | The accusation is the same thing that happened before with hire bikes scheme and the cable car. |
The business case has a benefit to cost ratio of 1.9:1, meaning you get £1.90 back for every £1 investment, which puts the bridge at the lower end of the benefits of transport projects. | The business case has a benefit to cost ratio of 1.9:1, meaning you get £1.90 back for every £1 investment, which puts the bridge at the lower end of the benefits of transport projects. |
Compare that to these other figures from TfL: | Compare that to these other figures from TfL: |
TfL says the bridge will create new opportunities for walking, reduce journey times and support economic development on both sides of the river. | TfL says the bridge will create new opportunities for walking, reduce journey times and support economic development on both sides of the river. |
According to the planning application, the trees on the bridge will be restricted to 49 ft (15m) in height to protect the views. | According to the planning application, the trees on the bridge will be restricted to 49 ft (15m) in height to protect the views. |
Lambeth Council will consider the planning application in November. | Lambeth Council will consider the planning application in November. |
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