Last month, DFT reported that Westminster Council had granted planning permission for the London Garden Bridge. Now, the project faces a fresh challenge from the public.

A petition started on Change.org by Thames Central Open Space (TCOS) claims that the bridge will have a devastating impact on the river’s ecosystem and historic foreshore.

It is maintained that £60 million of the £175 million required to build the project will come from public money, which some on the petition feel should be sent on much more important projects.

In a letter to Secretary of State for Communities and Government, Eric Pickles, TCOS urged the Government to put the Garden Bridge where it’s needed, without using public money.

“Please stop this project from going ahead; in these times of austerity, other tightly squeezed budgets will have to compensate for the burden of supporting this tourist attraction that simply isn't needed,” the group said.

“If the idea is to create more green space then please do it on dry land; there are plenty of sites that need regenerating e.g. Kew Gardens, derelict land or in another city. The Garden Bridge will only provide 2,500m sq of green space - not even half the size of a football pitch.”

Currently the petition has been signed by just under 2,500 people. Marilyn Dismore of Brighton is one of those who has backed the call for change.

“When I first saw this I thought ‘What a lovely idea, a bridge that's also a garden,’” she said.

“Then I found out it will have no public right of way, no cycling, no access at all after midnight, will have much more paved area than garden, will take away open green space, destroy trees, and the money will come out of the transport budget at a time when everything else is being cut to the bone. Why?”

TCOS also claim a that the bridge will obstruct iconic views from Waterloo Bridge and the South Bank of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament.

“The finest views of London from Waterloo Bridge, the North Bank and the South Bank will be lost forever if the Garden Bridge goes ahead; St Paul's and many other LVMF protected historic views of London will be ruined, truncated, foreshortened and abused,” added TCOS in its letter to Eric Pickles.

“This project will destroy the river's ecosystem and foreshore; the growing number of cyclists are excluded from this 'transport' project; groups of eight people or more need to book in advance; many private functions will restrict access on this so-called public bridge. It will be a mugger's paradise.”

The London Garden Bridge responded to these complaints, contacting DFT to say the benefits include:

•    Reducing pedestrian journey times between Temple Underground Station and the South Bank
•    Linking cultural centres and tourist attractions on the North and South Bank
•    Encouraging the use of Temple Underground Station and reducing demand on Embankment
•    Creating new routes that avoid busy roads, allowing for safer walking and improve pedestrian   safety
•     Encouraging an increase in regular walking and physical activity and all the associated health benefits of people walking further, more often and for greater distances.
•    Creating hundreds of jobs in construction employment and operations
•    Adding to London’s cultural offer and providing a new attraction for tourists

In terms of the economic fears, they added: “The quantifiable economic benefit of the bridge is close to £500 million over 60 years through employment, investment and tourism opportunities.
 
“This is a result of providing a crossing that will link cultural centres and tourist attractions, creating hundreds of jobs in construction employment and adding to London’s cultural offer by providing a new attraction for tourists.”

London Garden Bridge Trust also said that they worked with the Environment Agency, Natural England and Port of London Authority to address any potential impacts on the river.

“Once built the bridge will provide a striking, well designed and iconic new structure over the River Thames, which has also been designed to preserve as much visibility up and down the river as possible with high arches,” added a Trust spokesman.

“Conservation areas will generally be enhanced, particularly on the South Bank with its post-modern architecture. The bridge will affect some other views of Somerset House although it will also offer new views to important historic structures including Somerset House and Waterloo Bridge.”

The Garden Bridge Trust aims to start construction of the Bridge in late 2015 and it is expected to open to the public in 2018.
 
More on this as it unfolds.