A
distance of only 100m of water separates the two communities of Ham and
Twickenham within Richmond Borough. Despite this relative closeness, residents
in Twickenham find it hard to access the amenity and space of Ham, with its leisure
walks, nature reserves, heritage sites, polo grounds and sailing clubs, while
those in Ham are disadvantaged with poor access to transport and commercial links.
Over
the years there have been several suggestions for a footbridge to finally
connect Ham and Twickenham. But the location of the bridge has been hard to
agree.
Some
have proposed it should connect Ham House with Marble Hill Park. But this means
crossing the river at a location that would impact on the historic ferry
crossing and the protected view from Richmond Hill. It is also arguably too
close to Richmond Bridge and doesn’t actually satisfy the needs of the majority
of people who live in the wider borough. Others have proposed the bridge should
cross over at one or other end of Eel Pie Island. But both of these suggestions
would merely create a concentration of movement in an already busy Twickenham
town center where the existing arrangement of roads and residences do not lend
themselves to the landing stages of a suitable bridge.
Two residents from both
sides of the River Thames, Richard Woolf (an architect) and Mark Wing (a
creative strategist) have since established an initiative to convert the
community’s ‘need’ for a pedestrian and cycle bridge into a ‘desire’ to see it
realised. They believe that Radnor Gardens is the only truly suitable location
for the bridge and for this reason have named the initiative “Radnor Bridge”.
At the heart of the Radnor
Bridge initiative are two guiding principles;
1. Connecting two
communities
Radnor Bridge will connect
two communities. One through a formal “garden”, the other a natural
“wilderness”, while at the same time create more open and inclusive
neighbourhoods. It will link two separated worlds within the same borough and
thus stimulate change – break down barriers, facilitate movement, sharing of interests
and general goodwill.
2. Working with
the landscape
The natural topology of the
land on both sides of the River Thames, where Radnor Gardens is located,
provides a crossing point and space for effective landing stages for a footbridge
that will appear to be timelessly woven into its surroundings. Radnor Bridge
will therefore be positioned where it will deliver the most strategic advantage
to the wider community, while being sensitive to the existing plant and natural
wildlife “as if it had always been there.”
“Nothing
great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The enthusiasm for Radnor
Bridge therefore responds to this existing land topology in Ham Lands and
Radnor Gardens, spanning an optimum point on the river for natural ascent and
descent. It will build on the success of the Thames Landscape Strategy over the
past decade and the Ham Avenue Restoration Plan, to reinstate the Great River
Avenue complimented by a new cycle and pedestrian crossing, which allows it to
extend its reach for the first time to Radnor Gardens.
At the moment, Radnor
Gardens is a little lost, below the line of sight and on the wrong side of a
busy road it is often passed unnoticed. And yet, Radnor Gardens provides the
only uninterrupted stretch of the River Thames visible from the high street, with
its war memorial and numerous follies, it is a place of local interest on the
doorstep of the newly refurbished Strawberry Hill House.
It is the perfect midway
point between Richmond Bridge and Teddington Lock. It will also create an easy
link between Ham House and Strawberry Hill House, as well as perhaps help to
square the circle with both York House and Marble Hill House too.
Many cyclists already
travel along Cross Deep and so it is proposed that a mini roundabout be
introduced at the junction with Popes Grove to slow traffic around the schools
and facilitate easy access for cyclists to head (without interruption) into the
garden and across the bridge to The Avenue in Ham Lands.
Mark and Richard have
therfore also proposed that the bridge deck be bifurcated, providing two
separated levels of transfer across the Thames. The first, higher level, facing
up stream will be for pedestrians and will allow for wheel chair access, the
lower level facing down stream will be for cyclists. Height above maintained
water level (MWL) is anticipated to be no greater than Richmond Bridge, however
consultation with local yacht clubs indicates mast heights may establish this
datum. It is anticipate a height clearance of 6.0m – 8.0m indicatively.
To summaries, Radnor Bridge
will come to symbolise an elegant architectural form, designed to deliver a
picturesque solution that roles with the landscape and the tradition of
Arcadian Thames. It will be as much landscape as structure and a great legacy
for future generations in the borough.
If you would like to know
more, share your thoughts and hopefully register an interest to support this
initiative, please visit the blogsite ( http://radnorbridge.blogspot.co.uk )
and also feel free to contact Mark by email at RadnorBridge@interrelated.co.uk
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