← Back to House of Commons Debates
Bridges in London: Maintenance Funding
14 November 2023
Lead MP
Fleur Anderson
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
TaxationTransportParliamentary Procedure
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Fleur Anderson raised concerns about bridges in london: maintenance funding in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Thank you for calling me, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am proud to be a River Thames MP with Putney bridge as an important landmark in my constituency, but it is the closure of Hammersmith bridge that has brought me here this evening. The impact of its closure across London is significant and I urge the Minister to use this opportunity to announce funding for the reopening of the bridge. This issue affects constituents on both sides of the river, and there is cross-party support for addressing the problem.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Hammersmith bridge is a national transport route and its closure has had a huge impact on many people.
Nigel Evans
Con
Central Fylde
I was intrigued to hear the Northern Ireland aspect of Hammersmith bridge, which shows the cross-party support for reopening it.
Government Response
I congratulate Fleur Anderson on securing this debate and acknowledge the importance of Hammersmith bridge to her constituents. I clarify that the bridge is owned by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, not the Government. Despite this, the Department for Transport has provided nearly £10 million in funding since 2019 for various stages of investigation, stabilisation works, and geotechnical investigations. The next phase involves strengthening the core and renovating other structurally significant parts of the bridge, with a business case submitted to HM Treasury’s Green Book outline for review. I emphasise that under successive Governments, local boroughs have legal responsibility for London bridges and roads like Hammersmith bridge. TfL's funding for bridge projects is insufficient for this particular project. I assure Fleur Anderson that the Department will continue providing support as the project progresses.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.