A freestanding structure upstream of Cremorne Rail Bridge is proposed by locals
Will Battersea River Thames footbridge become a reality?
London Assembly Member for Wandsworth Richard Tracey AM and Battersea MP Jane Ellison hope
they are
getting nearer to achieving a dream of their constituents.
Those who live
around Battersea Square, as well as local businesses, such as the Hotel Rafayel by the
river, have been campaigning for sometime for a foot
and cycle bridge across the River Thames just upstream of Battersea Cremorne
rail bridge which carries London Overground services and freight trains.
They have also won interest from Wandsworth Council which produced an
engineering feasibility study in 2003. Richard Tracey previously talked to
TfL and Network Rail about attaching such a bridge to Cremorne Bridge which
is listed. After some study, Network Rail rejected this possibility.
Now the owner of Hotel Rafayel in Falcon Road, Mr Iqbal Latif, has
commissioned architects One-world Design, and engineers Expedition to study
possibilities, and jointly they suggest a freestanding bridge on its own
piers just upstream of Cremorne Bridge, linking Battersea and Battersea
Square area with Imperial Wharf and Chelsea Harbour, and to equip it with
lifts at each end to avoid extra land take on the riverbanks.
They are now researching further detailed costings, but believe
these will be approx £20 million and are seeking sponsors. The campaigners are also in
close touch with Wandsworth and Hammersmith and Fulham Councils.
Richard Tracey says: "I have been asked to contact TfL Planning chiefs to ask
for a meeting in the near future to discuss TfL and GLA thoughts about this
interesting idea which would bring much economic and transport
communications benefit to this part of west London and the River Thames. The
entrepreneurs would like to think of the bridge as a Diamond Jubilee legacy
marking the area where HM the Queen will start her Jubilee River Pageant.
This is very exciting and we hope it can be achieved."
February 6, 2012