• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

AMs: Garden Bridge cash should guarantee public’s right of access

November 24, 2014 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Image: Garden Bridge Trust/Heatherwick Studios
Image: Garden Bridge Trust/Heatherwick Studios
London Assembly members have called on the Mayor to ensure taxpayers have access to the Garden Bridge “in perpetuity” in return for part funding the scheme.

Taxpayers were initially due to make “a small investment” of £4m to cover planning and feasibility studies, with the scheme’s expected £160m bill being met by private and commercial donations.

However Mayor Boris Johnson subsequently changed his mind and ordered TfL to provide £30m with the UK Government pledging to provide a further £30m.

Last month it emerged that taxpayers will have no guaranteed access to the bridge, despite paying more than a third of its costs.

There’ll also be a ban on cycling and larger groups will require permission to use it.

Members of the Assembly’s Budget and Performance Committee say Mr Johnson should have placed conditions on his funding, including ensuring the public’s right of access.

In a report published today, the committee says “we recognise that there is an arguable transport case for TfL’s funding for the bridge” and says early signs are that “it will provide a good return on investment.”

However AMs say the Mayor should set out publicly the circumstances in which he’d agree to further increase taxpayer backing if organisers are unable to secure other donations or costs rise.

They also express concerns about “a lack of transparency” surrounding the project and say the Mayor should have leveraged his financial support to ensure the public can better scrutinise it.

Committee chair John Biggs AM said; “The Garden Bridge is a controversial proposal, and its details need to be properly ironed out. 

“The Mayor agreed to provide £30 million from TfL’s budget to help get it built  and, in return TfL needs to ensure that the public’s access rights are guaranteed.

“The Mayor also needs to ensure that the cost to the taxpayer won’t be increased without very careful consideration.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Tagged With: Garden Bridge

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.