Question about pedestrian and cycle-bridge across the River Thames
YouTube Link: Wed 18th Jan 6.30 to8.30pm. Twickenham – Leader’s Question Time at The Stoop (Harlequins RugbyClub)
Radnor Bridge representative, Mark Wing, attended the Leader’s Question Time event last week held at the Stoop. He took the opportunity to ensure Radnor Bridge had not been forgotten and to ask that a formal discussion about it be included within the Village Planning documents and discussions.
The following is transcribed from a recording of the question Mark put to the panel and the ensuing discussion /responses that followed.
In summary
Mark was pleased to have taken the time out to attend this event. He is also grateful to Lord True for his open and honest reply to Mark’s request. And also to Pamela Fleming, for her subsequent promise to ensure a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Thames is included as an “aspirational project” within the Village plans. (Listen at 1:07:12 on YouTube link)
The transcript
Mark Wing: “I’ve been actively campaigning since 2010, when we had the Barefoot Consultation, for a pedestrian and cycle-bridge across the River Thames, connecting Twickenham and Ham. I’ve engaged with a number of individuals on the council but not really taken too formal an approach with it thus far. I’ve been working on some ideas with an architect (Richard Woolf) who’s based in Richmond and lives in Ham. (This evening) I just wanted to register that this is something we are very keen to see happen. Believing it provides a wonderful, truly fantastic, legacy for the generations to come.
Mark Wing: “I’ve been actively campaigning since 2010, when we had the Barefoot Consultation, for a pedestrian and cycle-bridge across the River Thames, connecting Twickenham and Ham. I’ve engaged with a number of individuals on the council but not really taken too formal an approach with it thus far. I’ve been working on some ideas with an architect (Richard Woolf) who’s based in Richmond and lives in Ham. (This evening) I just wanted to register that this is something we are very keen to see happen. Believing it provides a wonderful, truly fantastic, legacy for the generations to come.
There have been 3
or 4 bridges mooted since 2010. We (Richard and I) have always been very keen
to convey that the best location for the bridge would be from Radnor Gardens
across to Ham Lands and that opens up some discussions to be had. I’d therefore
like to find the right opportunities and create the right formal approach to
have a proper debate about this subject. We have plenty of social media conversation
about it and lots of positive feedback. There is obviously also some people who
are concerned about our idea and we understand that is to be expected. We just
want to make sure that the right conversation is being had and that the right
members of the council can demonstrate to us that they are actually actively
taking an interest in this and would perhaps encourage myself and Richard to
step forward and find the right, formal, way to move these discussions forward.
I’m just a
resident here and I live locally. I appreciate that this could also have been
raised at the Strawberry Hill or Ham Village Talks too.”
Chairman, Robin Ghurbhurun (CEO Richmond College): “So the question is really a request for a formal debate from the
Council on the subject of a pedestrian and cycle-bridge across the River
Thames.”
Lord True (Head of
Council): “This is something that came up. I believe as an aspiration there is
room for it in the Village Plan. The problem (this helps address) is the
relative economic weakness of parts of Ham and the increase of footfall and
movement back and forth that we need. So, socially it is a very good idea. The
problem is that I’m not the sort of person who will go around promising ‘oh
that’s a good idea we must do something there’ as this only debases the coinage
of politics.
It will cost a lot
of money. We’d have to get the right design. Have to be sure the bridge will be
clear of the necessary activities on the river. Have to be sure where the
footings are. And there are many of the Friends of Radnor Gardens who are not
so keen for it to take off from there. So it’s an idea that the council, if I’m
being candid, is not actively working on at the moment. Its something that
would be nice to think about and I understand that has been the case for some
time.
Maybe we ought to
do more about, perhaps if there was a demand. Classically, this is the sort of
thing that might be activated if it was supported by a lottery application or
similar form of finance. Of course we don’t want to undermine the ferries or
other river based activities. But as an idea it is certainly something I’d like
to look into, but given all the other things we have to pursue it is not
something we are actively pursuing. I wouldn’t want to discourage you by saying
it will never happen. But remember that someone has got to write the check and
weigh it up against all the other things we need to do.”
Chairman, Robin Ghurbhurun (addressing
Lord True): “I think Mark is asking for a feasibility discussion, after 7 years
of working on this. Is this a discussion that can be had?”
Lord True: “Well I
think at some point we could once again look at ‘the river path concept’. I’m
not a Twickenham person, but I find the whole river along this stretch to be absolutely
ravishing. With the wonderful buildings and wonderful open spaces alongside it,
makes it one of the absolute jewels – this should be one of the bright spots –
in the whole of London. But it’s all divided up disparately, with different
management. The property is managed differently and you get bits of Port of
London Authority alongside Richmond Council areas, etc. I’ve always had this
idea to get everyone to sit round the table together and make this an official
group of people who said ‘yes we want this to be something special’. From time
to time I give that a bit of a nudge. But its never quite got going because
people have other things to do. Within that sentiment, the uses of individual
parts of the river could come up for discussion. So I have an open mind about
it… (Planning consent difficulties raised by person in the audience) …It would
be difficult to get planning authority in Radnor Gardens, but that doesn’t mean
we should canvas the discussion. Obviously it is not possible to design a
bridge here. However, it is a really interesting idea and maybe if the tooth fairies
were to come down and provide the funding and remove any of the obstacles it
might be a nice things to see happen, but we are a long way from this
happening.”
Mark Wing
(response): “Thank you very much. I just want to get the debate going. It’s
already happening online. We have discussed it in the past, but I’d like to
know somebody on the council is interested in picking it up. We’ve used
language like ‘it is a big idea. And it is a big idea that this area really
does need’. I don’t see why there would be planning restrictions. I would
encourage you to look at a recent article on our blog indicating five really
good reasons why that particular location will work very well and you can see
how the design doesn’t actually encroach on the Gardens any more than the
existing pathway does. So I would encourage people to look at that. It’s not
that we are trying to convey a particular design right now. We just want to get
the debate happening. But a design is important for when I get fed back these
kind of comments. And from a costing point of view we do believe this bridge
will represent a hugely powerful and important piece of transport
infrastructure for the area and when you think that it will connect Ham House,
Strawberry Hill House, York House and then Marble Hill House then it really
does lend something to tourism and leisure pursuits. It's the perfect midway
point along the river. And on the point about Hammerton Ferries, we’re
absolutely convinced that it would add value to people’s enjoyment of Hammerton
Ferries, not destroy Hammerton Ferries as a business. Anything closer to
Hammerton Ferries might do so but this particular location is the perfect
midway point. And the other thing is that I am amazed to understand that
Richmond Borough Council is the only Borough that sits across the river and yet
we haven’t had a new bridge built since 1929. The growth in the population –
and there has been a lot of talk about this tonight – warrants this. It will
get people out of their cars and improve their use of the natural environment
and as a result their wellness. There are lots of good socio and economic
reasons that exist for this bridge. It would clearly pay for itself no end.”
Lord True: “Well
look, you’ve made a very strong case which we’ve all heard. I did in my enquiry
say that I can see the economic socio and environmental benefits of the bridge
and I do believe the concept is important. But what I’m not going to do is be
misleading in saying that suddenly we are going to dust this down and promise
you that we will build the bridge, because I don’t have the means nor do I have
the public ascent for that currently. But its an interesting idea that’s been
put on the table but its not one that I personally can take to the Borough, I
do what the borough asks. And so from my own perspective, I think it is a very
interesting idea and I hope it stays on the table.”
Mark Wing: “Thank
you”.
Pamela Fleming (Councilor):
“I just wanted to add that this is an opportune moment. We are doing a planning
document. We have the village planning. And while it is a rather large village
planning project,… Its very aspirational for a village planning project but I
think it is one to bring in to the discussion whilst we’re having meetings on
the village plans and at the drop ins. Obviously there are lots of other
priorities that people are going to have but I think it should be there on the
table in the discussions we are having.
Mark Wing: “Thank
you”.
Chairman, Robin Ghurbhurun: “So Mark
you’ve got a partial invitation there, which is hopefully what you needed.”
That is really interesting that leaders have been questioned and they answered. Thanks for sharing the update of the conference and its minutes.
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