A bridge too far?


Concerns from residents over A4 Bridge

Hammersmith residents are concerned about plans by developer Grainger/Helical Bar to create a ‘futuristic step-free bridge’ over the A4.

Grainger and Helical Bar have been chosen by Hammersmith and Fulham Council to redevelop the area around the King Street town hall extension, creating a public piazza, shops, restaurants, houses and civic buildings.

The plans will involve demolishing the nearby Quaker Meeting House, housing for the blind and the Kings Street Cinema.

Part of the proposed design for the area involves creating a bridge linking the town centre and Furnival Gardens.

However, Angela Clarke, chairman of civic group the

Hammersmith Society, has said the group are not in favour of the bridge, and says people do not realise the amount of space it would take up in Furnival Gardens. She said: “There will be too much of an impact on Furnival Gardens.

“I was walking there earlier this month, during the hot weather, and at 6pm you couldn’t hardly see the gardens, because there were hundreds of young people sitting there, enjoying the gardens.“Anything that makes that space any smaller is just not on.”

Furnival Gardens was created after the Second World War, on the remains of the London Corinthium Sailing Clubhouse after it was hit by a Doodlebug bomb.

The London Corinthium Sailing Club is now located at Linden House.

May 30, 2008