- The full 10-week closure of Wandsworth Bridge by Wandsworth Council will be very concerning for Fulham and Chelsea residents.
- Greg has written to Wandsworth Council about the closure, TfL about changes to bus routes and launched a petition to Save South Fulham Businesses.
- TfL have finally released information about changes to buses. However, it is simply not good enough. Therefore, Greg has written again to TfL to make the case for his constituents.
Greg Hands MP is very aware how concerning the full closure of Wandsworth Bridge will be for residents. Just in case you were not aware - Wandsworth Bridge will be fully closed for 10 weeks starting Monday 24 July.
On Tuesday 11 July, Transport for London (TfL) finally released information about changes to buses that usually cross over the bridge. However, do not hold your breath, as the 28, C3 and 295 will not cross the river.
Here is an overview of changes to the buses:
- Route 28 - For journeys north Route 28 will begin its route from Imperial Road. For those travelling south towards the river, the final stop will be on Wandsworth Bridge Road.
- Route 295 - Will begin and end on Wandsworth Bridge Road.
- Route C3 - For journeys north Route C3 will begin its route from Townmead Road. For those travelling south towards the river, the final stop will be on William Morris Way.
- Route N28 - Will be diverted and cross Battersea Bridge.
- Route 728 - An additional temporary bus route, 728, will run between Fulham Broadway and Wandsworth Town centre via Battersea Bridge every 20 minutes between, 7 days a week, between 05:00 and 00:00.
Full details are available on TfL’s website.
In short, TfL seem to advise walking or cycling to cross the river. Which is totally unacceptable for many - for example, those with reduced mobility, wheelchair-bound, young children or with heavy luggage.
The 10-week closure by Wandsworth Council will be a hammer blow to Greg's constituents, who are already swamped with diverted and displaced traffic from the closure of Hammersmith Bridge and dealing with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham's controversial SW6 Traffic Scheme.
Now that we are faced with the closure of Wandsworth Bridge - it is a triple whammy of grief for Greg’s Fulham and Chelsea constituents.
Greg sprang into action on behalf of concerned residents when the bridge's closure was announced. He wrote to Wandsworth Council about the closure and wrote to Transport for London (TfL) about the impact this closure will have on public transport, and specifically changes to bus routes. He also launched a petition to Save South Fulham Businesses. You can read more about his petition and sign it here.
Greg still awaits a response from Wandsworth Council. TfL responded and detailed that they would communicate the bus plans to local stakeholders once they were finalised and would also inform the public of the necessary travel information in advance of the bridge closure by early July.
However, the information provided by TfL on 11 July, is just not good enough. Therefore, Greg has written again to TfL making the case for his constituents.
Greg will continue to follow developments closely and keep residents updated.
Commenting, Greg Hands said:
‘’The looming full closure of Wandsworth Bridge is very concerning for Fulham and Chelsea residents, who are already suffering from the closure of Hammersmith Bridge and the controversial SW6 Traffic Scheme – both caused by decisions from the Labour-run London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
I have been working hard to ensure residents have answers to key questions about the bridges closure, such as the changes to bus routes. However, I am deeply disappointed with the information shared by TfL. Expecting people to walk or cycle to cross the river is just unacceptable, especially for those with reduced mobility, wheelchair-bound, young children or with heavy luggage.
Therefore, I have written again to TfL on behalf Fulham and Chelsea residents.’’
ENDS
