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Could spiralling costs or Sadiq Khan put an end to hopes of full bridge repair?

Articles in the Bugle about Hammersmith Bridge sometimes have the feeling of Groundhog Day. We often write about spiralling costs, delays and political arguments. We’re sad to say that this month’s news of the bridge offers more of the same. 

However, while the issues involving the bridge continue to be unresolved it has been a dramatic month for bridge watchers. So, what’s new?

Spiralling costs
Hammersmith Council leader Stephen Cowan announced last month that the latest cost estimate for the full repair of the bridge is £230 million. Back in 2019 before the bridge closed suddenly, we were running stories estimating a repair cost of £25 million and a closure time of 18 months. Oh, how young and foolish we were then. Little did we know that this was just the start of a saga that has now seen the bridge closed to traffic for four years and costs escalate from £25 million, to £100 million, to £130 million, to £160 million, to the current extraordinary figure. The costs initially grew as the scale of work required became more apparent, but the recent growth is down to inflation, including hikes in steel costs caused by the Ukraine war.

While the increase in costs is shocking, the ramifications of the new estimate are worrying for anyone wanting the bridge to be fully repaired. This is because the Government’s commitment to fund 33% of the repair costs is cost limited. In 2021 when the Government brokered the deal, cost estimates were running around the £160 million mark and the Department of Transport clearly stated that its commitment to open the bridge to traffic was dependent on cost.

Delays
Having first said that the central carriageway of the bridge would be open to cyclists in late spring Hammersmith & Fulham Council now anticipates that this will happen in September. At the Bugle we’re not holding our breath…

Political issues – Sadiq Khan and Stephen Cowan
The Government funding agreement for the bridge saddles Hammersmith and Fulham Council with a third of the cost of the bridge’s repairs. That’s a cool £77 million. It is money the council doesn’t have, so the only way to get it is by partnering with private finance who will stump up the cash in return for future revenue from tolls. Unless the government funding formula changes, no toll means no bridge repair. This is why the interesting assertion by Hammersmith Council leader Stephen Cowan this month that London Mayor Sadiq Khan opposes a toll was big news.

When the Bugle approached City Hall to ask whether Sadiq Khan supported or did not support a toll, you might expect we would have received a simple yes or no in reply (it's not that hard a question). However, tellingly, we were sent this masterpiece of the press officer's art  “Hammersmith & Fulham Council have (sic) been clear that the purpose of a potential charge on the bridge would be to raise revenue to repay the costs of repair works on the bridge, and not to deliver wider transport policy objectives. As such, the appropriate approach to introduce the toll is through a tolling order, which would be managed by the Department for Transport. The Mayor and TfL are committed to supporting the reopening of Hammersmith Bridge and will continue to work closely with the local council and the Government.”  

This is obviously as clear as mud but what we think this means is that, as Mayor, Khan might not give permission for a toll (maybe it would set a precedent he doesn't want to follow) but that Hammersmith and Fulham can get round this by applying to the Department of Transport.

So City Hall won't clearly state whether or not Sadiq Khan supports a toll but Stephen Cowan's initial statement might raise concerns about the politics surrounding the bridge. We’re used to disputes arising between the Tory government and Labour controlled Hammersmith & Fulham, but Labour politicians not singing from the same hymn sheet is a new development.

The whole sorry saga of the bridge has been covered in a beautifully written article in the Evening Standard this month which is well worth reading. 

Local MP dubs ‘eco-friendly’ bridge solution a ‘sticking plaster’

With costs ramping up and political uncertainty abounding there’s a growing school of thought that perhaps the bridge should never be re-opened to traffic. A poll in the Bugle two months ago showed that nearly 75% of Bugle readers who responded want a full repair but a significant minority think an eco-friendly solution proposed by environmental campaigners Possible should be implemented. 

This would see work on the bridge finish at the end of the current ‘stabilisation process’ and pedestrians and cyclists using the bridge alongside a fleet of electric powered autonomously driven mini pods carrying the elderly and disabled. As well as being a measure designed to reduce car use this would have the added benefit of budget savings and freedom from more years of political wrangling.

However, how desirable a solution is it? Not desirable at all according to our local MP, Sarah Olney, who has stated that “Possible’s proposal could help get people moving across the bridge, but the stabilisation works are only a sticking plaster on a much deeper problem. 

"The bridge is an old structure that seems to need a total refit, half measures likely won’t cut it and could lead to more closures further down the line. We need a long-term solution that can finally provide residents with some certainty. 

"If Possible's solution was implemented but the bridge had to be closed again, we’d be back at square one but with even less political will from the DfT or TfL to solve the issue.  

"Ultimately, we need buses, ambulances, and police cars to be able to cross this bridge. Possible's solution can't deliver this, and it can't guarantee we wouldn't be right back where we started a few years from now.”

Meanwhile, the Bugle has spent a fruitless week trying and failing to get answers on how stable the ‘stabilised’ version of the bridge will actually be. At the consultation event for Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s preferred repair option leading bridge engineer David MacKenzie of Cowi stated that the bridge’s deck and support trusses were at the end of their useful life. What the Bugle can’t find out is how long we have got before they meet their demise– that is how long could a stabilised bridge remain open before having to close again for major repairs. It’s the £230million question and we’re afraid we currently can’t find the answer.
 

Roll up, roll up, roll up to Barnes Fair tomorrow - Saturday June 9

Image: Andrew Wilson

What does all the fun of the fair mean to you? We all have our favourite Barnes Fair moments. It could be watching the kids bob up and down on the fairground rides, Pimm’s at the BCA tent, searching for bargain second hand books, or buying something vintage from one of the antiques stalls. 

For us at the Bugle, like a gambler who has once won big at Vegas and expects their luck to last, we always return to the BCA’s bottle tombola. In one glorious year (sadly never repeated) we emerged with a magnum of Champagne and much else besides. Despite never snaffling anything better than a bottle of London Pride in recent years, it’s an essential part of our Fair experience, together with visiting the plant stalls and queuing up for Thai food by Beverley Brook.

It’s a huge thing, our Fair, with something, it seems, for everyone. This year there are over 300 stalls offering clothing, kitchenware, antiques and more. You’ll find lots of local organisations, like the WI and FiSH, and some fabulous food and drink stalls with local restaurants including The Crossing, Rick Stein, The Nest and Postbox all serving up great food for picnic lunches. 

Entertainment is on hand at the bandstand with live music, dance and karate displays and there’s even a band of wandering ukulele players.

This year money raised from the fair will go towards a defibrillator at the Castelnau Community Centre so you can sip your Pimm’s with a clear conscience knowing your fun day out is contributing to a good cause.
 

Vine Road, SW13                                                 £6,375,000

The ultimate Barnes wedding

If you love Barnes as much as you love your partner and you’re looking for somewhere to hold a civil ceremony, there’s great news; the OSO has got a wedding licence.

Imagine drinks outside on the green and a wedding ceremony held in the arts centre’s flexible indoor space. As a theatre, the OSO knows how to stage memorable events and can even offer you full lighting and a sound rig if you have an extravaganza in mind. And, of course, where better to have your wedding photos taken than by the pond or next to Beverley Brook. Find out more on the OSO’s website.

A place of safety

We reported extensively about crime in Barnes in the last Bugle, and hot on the heels of a packed local Police Liaison Meeting comes a valuable initiative from the Barnes Community Association, the police and Richmond Safer Neighbourhoods. 

Four businesses in Barnes have volunteered to become safe spaces – somewhere where anyone worried about being mugged can seek sanctuary.

Signs in each business’s windows carry advice from the Mothers Against Mugging group about how to keep yourself safe.

Sadly muggings are still ongoing and a contributor to the Next Door Barnes app reported a mugging of a boy outside Gail’s in broad daylight (phone and cards stolen) as well as a St Paul’s pupil being targeted at Barnes Station and another mugging of a child attending Ibstock Place.

Businesses taking part in the safe places scheme in Barnes are The Barnes Pharmacy, Natsons,The OSO and The Bridge pub. The BCA is asking other local shops, pubs and restaurants to take part in the scheme. 

Funding bonus for Vine Road transformation plans

The charity Barnes Common’s plans to transform Vine Road recreation ground into a vibrant community hub offering water play for children of all ages, a skateboard pump track and a beautifully landscaped park area has received a boost with news of funding from Richmond Council. 

The cash will enable the designs for the master plan for the recreation ground to be developed into a formal planning application.

The scheme is far more than simple beautification, as, at its heart will be a building that can serve as a refuge for at-risk members of the community during climate related emergencies such as flooding due to extreme rain and providing shelter for people affected by heatwaves or extreme cold snaps.  It’s believed to be one of the first in the UK designed with this facility. When it’s not being used for emergencies the space will house a café, community hub and educational area explaining to visitors what is uniquely special about our common and its rare acid grassland.

Let's get this party started

With the arrival of June, Barnes suddenly awoke from its slumbers to become party central. First, on June 7, came the Party in the Mews a fundraising event for the Bowelbabe fund held just off Church Road, next up, on Saturday June 10 there was Queen on the Green, the culmination of the OSO and BCA’s outdoor festival and finally to add to the jollity came a party to celebrate the reopening of the beautifully revamped Sun Inn where the crème de la crème of Barnes society and Sun Inn regulars (obviously one and the same thing) hoovered up complimentary drinks and canapés. At the risk of turning the Bugle into a low rent version of Hello magazine we’ve put together a montage of party photos above for you to enjoy. 

Migration or mini-break, as our swans decamp to the river?

Our mother swan has gathered up her cygnets and taken them down to the Thames. We don't know if this is a mini break or a permanent move, but perhaps some ancient swan memory has reminded her that Barnes Fair is on its way and that the Thames might be a quiet place to sit it out. 

You can see footage of the swan entourage toddling down to Small Profits dock by clicking here on a link to Swan Sanctuary volunteer Anne Davies' Instagram account.

For now the male swan (cob) seems to have remained by the pond. Perhaps he doesn't want to miss out on the fun of the fair?

Gridlock fears lead to call for independent investigation

If you tot up the number of new homes being planned locally by adding the Mortlake Brewery development (1300) to the Kew Retail park scheme (1200) to the Homebase project (453) and the Barnes Hospital site (80) the overall figure comes to over 3,000. Local green party councillor Niki Crookdale is worried about the affect all these new homes will have on traffic and infrastructure and she’s calling on Richmond Council to appoint an independent Traffic Consultant to assess the combined effect of all this development.

She has the backing of the Mortlake and East Sheen Society, the Mortlake Community Association and the Barnes Community association according to a report in Richmond Nub News.

Richmond Council however is rejecting Councillor Crookdale’s request with the chair of the Richmond’s transport committee saying "It's wasteful to spend scarce resident resources filling pockets of 'independent' consultants, when transport expertise already resides within the council and will be used as part of a live planning application."

Church Road named one of the UK's Top 100 local restaurants

It's not just Bugle readers who think Church Road is a great local restaurant  - it came top in our reader survey of Barnes restaurants last year - the Good Food Guide has just named it one of the best local restaurants in London and one of the top 100 local restaurants in the UK.

So, what did the Good Food Guide say and how did Church Road get on the list? Firstly, enough Church Road customers had to nominate the restaurant before the Good Food Guide sent out a reviewer, and then, secondly, the reviewer had to come along anonymously and check that the restaurant was worthy of all those nominations.

It seems Church Road cleared both bars with aplomb. It's one of only eight London restaurants on the list and the reviewer gave it what can only be described as a rave.

"Sibling to Kitchen W8 and Elystan Street in Kensington and Chelsea respectively, Church Road is the very model of a restaurant du quartier in leafiest Barnes. A few tables out front between planters under an awning; booth-style tables and comfortable bar-counter seating indoors; hexagonal floor tiles, fresh flowers on the tables, a distant view of chefs checking their order tickets behind frosted glass: one could almost be forgiven for thinking that all's right with the world.

"The food makes a virtue of sustainability in a light, fresh style that works wonders: in the summer swelter, we enjoyed a salad of lobster, Isle of Wight tomatoes and croûtons, dressed in basil oil and served with gazpacho. Otherwise, try courgettes in two colours with herbed ricotta, or minted and lemon-tinged burrata. Mains bring on the likes of citrus-glazed bream in spring vegetable minestrone, or a robustly rich, accurately timed pavé of aged Hereford beef with bone-marrow butter and hand-cut chips. Temperature contrast makes a dessert of warm bitter chocolate fondant and milk ice cream just the ticket, but if it's frozen or nothing, go for the ebulliently refreshing morello cherry sorbet with lime granita.

"The gin-based cocktails look all too tempting, while the approachable wine list favours France and Italy."

Elvis or Elton? Abba or Amy Winehouse? Who’s going to be next year’s tribute act?

Pictures: Alice Ross

Mobile phones torches swaying in the air, happy picnickers singing along , a wonderfully warm evening, and tribute act Supersonic Queen belting out hit after hit; this year’s Summer Festival on Barnes Green couldn’t have gone any better. However, that leaves the organisers with a dilemma. How do you top that?
So it’s over to you. The team at the OSO would be keen to hear what band or act you would like to see featured next year, pick any act you fancy - although maybe not The Wurzels. Just fill out our quick survey here and we’ll pass your suggestions along.

Secure a place at The Barnes Village Nursery by supporting a local theatre company

Well this is certainly one of the most interesting fundraising campaigns we've come across. Normally, there's a whole lot of sponsorship going on, but in this case it's a sort of secret silent auction for a nursery school place, and you don't necessarily have to be the the highest bidder to win.

The proceeds raised from the auction will go towards a new children's theatre company formed by poet Roger McGough and director Jonny Danciger. What's on offer is a year's attendance at The Barnes Village Nursery for a 2-4 year old. 

All you need to do to place a bid is email Jonny telling him who you need the nursery place for and how that will positively impact you. Alternatively if you don't have nursery age children but want to make a difference by gifting a nursery place to a family in hardship that might need help, why not make a bid and give someone the most extraordinary life changing gift?

Everything's coming up rosé

The outdoor terrace at the Olympic has always added a touch of French-style ‘Je ne sais quoi’ to Church Road, but for the summer it’s going to get even more of a Francophile twist with the arrival of a petanque terrain and a brand new outdoor rosé bar that has been christened in true rock chick style ‘A whole lot of rosé’.

It’s not all gallic charm outside the cinema though, as the preview screens in the Olympic’s windows will be showing Wimbledon tennis throughout the tournament, and if you want a more traditional British tipple to hand while watching the tennis the rosé bar is also doing a nice line in Pimm’s. Santé!

The 'Wittering Whitehalls' come to the OSO

If prizes were being handed out for the most cantankerous man in Barnes we could suggest a longlist but really there’s no contest, it would have to be theatrical agent and misanthrope par excellence Michael Whitehall.  For all we know he’s actually a gentle soul, putting on an act, but oh what an act it is. Having been thrust into the spotlight by his comedian son Jack Whitehall, Michael and his wife Hilary have bought their unique style of bickering to a hugely successful podcast -The Wittering Whitehalls.

Perhaps proving that Michael is not so misanthropic after all, the duo are helping to raise funds for the OSO by bringing their podcast to the stage for one night only on August 2.

They are very kindly offering agony aunt/uncle services at the show and audience members are encouraged to share their worries or pet peeves and then hear the Whitehall’s take on them. The show blurb says “Expect rants, raves, harsh truths and expletives as Hilary & Michael consider your points of view and possibly even help you solve an issue, and the odd theatrical anecdote from Mr Whitehall thrown in for good measure.”

You can buy tickets here.

Freddie's memory inspires parliamentary debate

It’s nearly two years now since the death of Freddie the seal on the Thames towpath made national news, but his sad loss hasn’t gone unmarked. Advocate group Thames Seal Watch made it the catalyst for a campaign to protect seals and to educate dog owners about the risks of letting dogs off leash in a seal’s vicinity. Earlier this year the charity erected educational signs along the towpath and at the end of June local MP Sarah Olney secured a Commons debate on the protection of seals urging the Government to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act to make the intentional or reckless disturbance of seals an offence. You can read a transcript here.

Breaking cover – the story of the men behind some of the most iconic sleeve designs of all time

Part of the pleasure of owning old-fashioned vinyl is appreciating the extraordinary images that grace the covers of some of the most iconic records, and one of the great joys of mooching around Olympic Records is enjoying cover art. So, if there ever was a perfect film to show at The Olympic it is Squaring the Circle, the story of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell whose most celebrated cover design was made for their friends Syd, David and Roger when they made the album Dark Side of the Moon.

The film tells the story of Hipgnosis the design company behind some extraordinary images. It’s a study of seventies rock excess, and extraordinary sums of money being invested by record companies to achieve the perfect cover art.

 
Talking heads in the stylish film, directed by Anton Corbijn, include Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page and Roger Waters, but the icing on the cake for the Olympic is that for one special showing one half of Hipgnosis Aubrey “Po” Powell will be taking part in a Q&A after the screening.

It’s an unmissable event for any lover of cover art and those who are fascinated by the pomp and theatre of British rock’s heyday. Find out more here.

Richmond backs 20 minute neighbourhoods

There shouldn’t be anything controversial in plans to make neighbourhoods better places to live but the concept of 20 minute neighbourhoods which is being explored by Richmond Council is becoming quite a political touchpoint.

The idea is to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging people to get out of their cars and walk and use public transport to use local amenities. In Barnes we already live in a 20 minute neighbourhood with generally good public transport and all sorts of shops and facilities on our doorstep. However, even here, changes that chime with the 20 minute neighbourhood ethos such as the recent redesign of our High Street have met with local opposition with businesses saying that changes in parking layout have led to their customers taking their business elsewhere.

Online conspiracy theories abound around the idea of getting people to work and shop more locally. Some of the wilder claims warn that it’s an excuse to limit our freedoms leading ultimately to dictatorship.

Online nonsense aside, limiting car use is one of those issues that seems to be dividing communities with those with libertarian views railing against the perceived ‘paternalism’ of councils bringing in traffic controls. The political upheavals about the extension of ULEZ have highlighted this fault line. Here in Barnes there’s the Hammersmith Bridge issue and concerns about traffic congestion that might be caused by the building of four major new developments in Mortlake, Sheen and Richmond (see story further above).

You can find out more about Richmond’s plans here.

Planting the seed

Are you a novice vegetable grower and looking for advice? If the answer’s yes then free help is on hand from the Community Growing Team at Barnes Common. This month in their Grower’s Training Session they’ll be exploring watering. Using water wisely, minimising waste and a guide to irrigation systems will all be on the agenda for the free session at the Vine Road Recreation Ground on July 15. Find out more here.

Garden waste collection changes

If like the Bugle you have a garden that grows like topsy you are probably an avid user of the council’s garden waste collection service. Up until now the situation has been – you prune, you bag up your waste in special bags or bins and twice a month on an allocated day the council waste operatives come to collect it – except when they forget, which happens to us with surprising regularity.

However, this is all about to change. In future you will need to book your green waste collection in advance. You can find out more about how the new system works here.
 

Talk to Sarah Olney at the OSO

Crime and Hammersmith Bridge are the two issues that are worrying Barnes residents at the moment and they are certainly topics that will come up at the briefing meeting being held by local MP Sarah Olney in Barnes on August 3.

The meeting held at the OSO will give Sarah the chance to give constituents an update of her work in Parliament and to talk about her stance on both national and local issues. It’s also a chance for residents to share their thoughts about issues that are concerning them. You can reserve your place through her website where you can also sign a petition requesting the re-establishment of a police station in Richmond.

Eco-explorers camp for Barnes Common

This sounds like a great idea. The team at Barnes Common are holding their first 5 day Eco-Explorers Summer Camp for children aged 10-14 years this month. Children will spend a week learning how to identify, record and understand wildlife on Barnes Common.

The Camp will run for 1 week from Monday July 23 to Friday July 28. Children will build skills throughout the week and  take part in practical conservation activities as well as plan and deliver an activity for the public.

You can find out more here.

New spa for Castelnau

Beauty salons are keeping British High Streets alive according to a survey by the BBC which showed that they are proliferating while other traditional players like banks disappear from our shopping streets. It’s no surprise then that the business premises that once housed the Kate Anderson Spa on Castelnau is to re open as, you guessed it, another spa.  Barnes Spa and Massage is set to open some time in July, and we’ll bring you more details of the new business in our next issue.

Outstanding rating for Swedish School

Our brilliant local Swedish School has just received its fourth consecutive outstanding rating from Ofsted. In its previous report in 2019, the School achieved 'Outstanding' in all of the six areas that were assessed. This latest report has continued with the clean sweep.

Head Teacher, Jenny Abrahamsson says: “The whole school community should be thrilled with this news as it is a truly extraordinary achievement. The inspectors were particularly impressed with our pupils being polite, safe and motivated to learn; and with our teachers having strong subject knowledge and expertise, as well as high expectations for every pupil, ensuring that the pupils receive the individual support that they need to be successful.” 

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