Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the decision by the Mayor of London’s office to give planning permission for the Garden Bridge:
“There can be no denying that numerous questions still remain over the long term maintenance funding of the bridge and who will ultimately be picking up the bill.
“Numerous important issues also remain about the public access to the bridge.
“Will people be ticketed to use the bridge and just how often will the bridge close for commercial purposes? These are just some of the basic issues that have not yet been resolved.
“The Mayor has also not answered the fundamental question as to why he thinks allocating £30 million of Transport for London’s budget to a bridge in this location should be a far higher priority than improving pedestrian and cycling links across the Thames such as between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf. A bridge that is open 24-hours a day, that is accessible to both pedestrians and cyclists, and which provides a new crossing where there is an absence of other nearby bridges, must surely be a greater priority.
“The Mayor of London’s office have made a decision behind closed doors at City Hall to back the planning proposal, but at some point answers to these questions will have to be given to the public.”
You can read more in the Guardian.