Westminster Labour Councillors have responded to Wandsworth Council’s decision on its ‘preferred option’ for the location of a proposed Nine Elms-Pimlico bridge.

As confirmed in a report by the Evening Standard and on the bridge’s official website, Wandsworth Council has chosen the option linking Battersea Power Station on the south side to a landing point by Churchill Gardens Estate, west of Claverton Street, Pimlico, on the north side.

Westminster Labour Councillors are completely opposed to the plans for this bridge. The proposed landing point in Pimlico – right by a large housing estate, Churchill Gardens – will bring huge, daily foot- and bike-fall through the estate. It will also bring cyclists and pedestrians straight on to a hugely busy main road (Grosvenor Road). And it will bring thousands of commuters through an area of Pimlico that simply does not have the infrastructure to deal with this increase.

The Mayor of London also backs our opposition to it. In December, the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander, reiterated that any such bridge should not go ahead without the backing of residents on both sides of the river, adding that TfL’s focus “is on new river crossings in the east of the city… where the river is a significant barrier to those walking and cycling. West London is relatively well served by existing river crossings in comparison.”

Churchill Ward Labour Councillor Andrea Mann said:

“Newsflash for Wandsworth Council: building a bridge requires support from both sides of a river! It is staggering that Wandsworth is ploughing on regardless, continuing to ignore all the Pimlico residents – and Westminster Councillors – who have been voicing their concerns and objections to these proposals from day one.

“The chosen ‘preferred option’ is right by the largest housing estate in the area – and yet none of its residents have been consulted.

“Westminster Labour Councillors will continue to fight these proposals and stand up for the residents we represent.”

Fellow Churchill Ward Labour Councillor Shamim Talukder said:

“At Westminster Council’s most recent full council meeting, I asked Council Leader Nickie Aiken if she backed Churchill Ward Labour Councillors’ opposition to Wandsworth Council’s proposed bridge. She unequivocally did.

“It is unbelievable that Wandsworth Council continue to push for this bridge, despite opposition from Pimlico residents, the Mayor of London, Labour London Assembly Members and Westminster Councillors – including the Leader of the Council herself.”

Residents wishing to object to Wandsworth Council proposals should write to the Leader of Wandsworth Council, Ravi Govindia at rgovindia@wandsworth.gov.uk

Read more:

–       Mayor of London supports Westminster Labour on Nine-Elms Bridge

–       Westminster Labour Councillors oppose latest plans for Nine Elms-Pimlico Bridge

–       Seven reasons why Westminster’s Labour Councillors oppose the proposed Nine Elms to Pimlico bridge