Thames garden bridge

[Martin H]

I hear that the new garden bridge over the Thames that Joanna Lumley has been campaigning for, has got clearance to go ahead.

It's not universally popular but personally I think it will be brilliant and can't wait to go and see it!

BBC News - Mayor Boris Johnson approves River Thames garden bridge

[Nicos]

Sounds like a great idea, if you forget about the cost.

I had forgotten about it tbh...but just looking at the piccies in the link, I do hope it will be safe to use on a dark evening?
...hope it doesn't turn into a Central Park type place where it's not particularly safe to walk alone /in the dark?!

...just a negative thought on a wet dull day...sorry...let's hope I'm wrong eh?

[Kristen]

I think its a crazy idea. I have no problem with the planting, just the huge complexity (and thereby cost) of combining that with a bridge.

New York have done a great job with an old disused "High Line" railway that has been converted into an aerial walkway and chill-out-area, and planted up - mostly with low plants though.





http://www.thehighline.org/

[sparrow100]

I love the HighLine - those have to be staged photos though or from early in the morning. When I walked along it last year it was PACKED.

I am cheesed off about the garden bridge. I thought it would be a cracking idea and wrote letters of support initially, but it turns out from the planning permissions that it will block the lovely views along the river from the Hungerford & Waterloo Bridges, it won't be a public right of way, it will be closed at night and you can't go across in parties of more than 8 without booking tickets.

Feel really disillusioned about it now.

[muddled]

I agree.
The idea of a garden across our 'dirty old river' really appealed to me.

The reality however, is rather more cynical.

The bridge will do nothing to reduce congestion.
Will be closed at night and whenever a corporate event takes it over.
At a time when the capital is facing unimagineable disruption from tomorrows closure of London Bridge station...
When my little girl's bus journey to school (four miles) takes an hour and fifteen minutes.....
When they've just increased the Dartford toll (again) to £2.50 each way....

To hear that transport for Lodon is throwing in 60 million quid is a bit of a smack in the teeth.