Thread by @CharlotteV

Have started to notice commentary creeping into the discussion around #HammersmithBridge which suggests that the Government is not committed to getting this bridge fixed. This couldn’t be further from the truth, thread below outlines why 👇
(1/7)

The Government has done more in the past four months to build consensus and set a way forward to fix the bridge than anyone else. We only stepped in because we had to, given that progress over previous 12+months had been glacially slow.
(2/7)

We set up the #HammersmithBridge taskforce, brought in top engineers plus Dana Skelley to drive the project forward, have given @TfL £4m to begin bridge repairs and made it a condition of TfL's last bailout that active travel funding be used to provide a ferry service.
(3/7)

We are now at the crucial issue of long-term funding. To be clear, the bridge is NOT DfT’s responsibility – it’s @LBHF's as bridge owners, and to date we’ve received no completed business case for reopening or serious offer of financial help to get the bridge fixed.
(4/7)

I’m aware that, to the Londoners that have suffered, who funds what is a moot point – they want the bridge fixed, and fixed fast. That is exactly the Government’s view too, which is why we’re dedicated to finding a funding solution that works for everyone.
(5/7)

But any funding Government provides must be fair to the UK taxpayer – we don’t want Londoners to suffer unnecessarily, but it cannot rest solely with the Government to fix this historic structure.
(6/7)

I want the bridge open again as soon as safely possible. This great example of Victorian ingenuity being closed is a sad sight. We need everyone who has a stake to come together. Government has shown its commitment – we need others to do that now too.
(7/7)