Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has made to the (a) Port of London Authority and (b) London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to allow for the safe passage of river traffic under Hammersmith Bridge.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, as the bridge owner, took the decision to close Hammersmith Bridge to river traffic in August 2020, as advised within the Case for Continued Safe Operation. Public safety is the top priority and the Governments wants to see the bridge reopened to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic as soon as it is safe to do so.
As you may be aware the Government has established a Taskforce – led by Baroness Vere – to bring together both local Councils, Transport for London and the Port of London Authority to assess and determine next steps.
The Department for Transport and the Port of London Authority continue to hold constructive discussions with Hammersmith and Fulham on the possibility of revisiting the Case for Continued Safe Operation to allow controlled and limited river traffic; any changes will be dependent on expert engineers determining that any risks are adequately controlled.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to allow for the safe passage of river traffic under Hammersmith Bridge.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, as the bridge owner, took the decision to close Hammersmith Bridge to river traffic in August 2020, as advised within the Case for Continued Safe Operation. Public safety is the top priority and the Governments wants to see the bridge reopened to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic as soon as it is safe to do so.
As you may be aware the Government has established a Taskforce – led by Baroness Vere – to bring together both local Councils, Transport for London and the Port of London Authority to assess and determine next steps.
The Department for Transport and the Port of London Authority continue to hold constructive discussions with Hammersmith and Fulham on the possibility of revisiting the Case for Continued Safe Operation to allow controlled and limited river traffic; any changes will be dependent on expert engineers determining that any risks are adequately controlled.