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Monday, 08 August 2016 08:16

Why no news on the cycle/footbridge?

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A number of recent enquires suggests that it's probably a good time for an update on the cycle/footbridge project. After David Cameron's pledge to kick-start a "cycling revolution" our hopes were high that funding might even become available in the lifetime of this parliament. Sadly, it seems our optimism was misplaced. Funding for cycling would have to increase thirteenfold to meet a government pledge to double the number of people travelling by bicycle (that is, people wishing to journey from A - B and does not include the out-of-town, road-racing, lycra-clad pelotons who make life so frustrating for motorists by turning Lower Hampton Road, Thames Street and Fordbridge Road into a racetrack!).

Analysis by Cycling UK showed that annual funding for cycling in England would be cut to two thirds of its present level by the end of the decade and that the annual £314 million pot for cycling over the next five years would decline rapidly. Funding will stand at £95 million this year and next before dropping to £45.5 million in 2018-19; and £33 million in 2020-21 (or 72p per person per year outside London).

All very disappointing and while it doesn't necessarily kick our project into the long grass it does mean we will have to make a huge adjustment to our expectations about seeing a bridge built in the near future.

5 comments

  • Comment Link g holmes Thursday, 18 August 2016 12:22 posted by g holmes

    Can't we use the existing walkway over the weir?!!

  • Comment Link bob Tuesday, 16 August 2016 16:00 posted by bob

    If we hadn't voted Brexit, we'd have had more chance of the funding. Spelthorne residents get what they voted for I'm afraid!

  • Comment Link ca roberts Monday, 15 August 2016 20:47 posted by ca roberts

    Lets make this happen? What is the next step

  • Comment Link Johnny Eleventrees Monday, 15 August 2016 11:46 posted by Johnny Eleventrees

    There's an existing footbridge linking the two banks, all it would take is for the relevant authorities to link arms and we'd get the weir bridge up and running at a fraction of the cost of the 'will never happen' new stand alone bridge. The post Brexit spending cuts to shore up existing funding will put paid to all but the most necessary engineering projects. There's nothing like taking back control is there folks!

  • Comment Link Chris Saturday, 13 August 2016 22:28 posted by Chris

    How much is the cost of building a bridge likely to be? Is there anyway that fund raising or kick starter style fund raising could help with this project with a little help from local businesses, our council (although they only like to make money rather than invest it!) & maybe something like lottery funding? It would be a huge asset to the communities either side of the Thames.

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