Bridge to nowhere

Wednesday June 17, 2009

APPEAL: Edward Woods residents Irene Roberts, Patrick and Yvonne O’Doherty and George Tregaskis called in Cllr Lucy Ivimy to help them.

Residents on the Edward Woods Estate are calling for a ‘bridge to nowhere’ to finally be opened.

The bridge, which runs over the A3220 linking the Edward Woods Estate in Shepherd’s Bush with Westfield and Wood Lane tube station, was finished in early spring.

But the vital link between Hunt Close and Ariel Way has remained closed for months because of a row between Westfield and Transport for London over safety concerns at a pedestrian crossing.

Now, H&F Homes and H&F cabinet member Lucy Ivimy are calling for a solution so the bridge can be opened.

As long as it remains closed, residents have to make a 25-minute detour or take a £2 bus ride simply to get to Wood Lane tube station and Westfield.

Edward Woods resident Irene Roberts, 60, a retired accountant, said: “The bridge opened months ago but we’ve not been able to use it and no one can understand why.

“It seems ridiculous that we have to walk miles or wait for a bus when there is a perfectly good bridge ready and waiting.”

Councillor Ivimy said she would be calling on TfL and Westfield to resolve the problem as quickly as possible for the good of residents.

She said: “Safety is obviously the priority, but I’m absolutely baffled that a bridge could be finished for so long and yet residents cannot use it.

“I am doing everything in my power to find out what has happened and get it open as soon as possible.”

The argument centres around the layout of a pedestrian crossing. The A3220 is a major road so it is the responsibility of TfL – not Hammersmith & Fulham Council or H&F Homes.

A TfL spokeswoman said: "We are working with Westfield to resolve an outstanding issue with the layout of the pedestrian crossing.

“We will continue to work together to get this resolved as quickly as possible.’’

And a Westfield spokeswoman said: “Throughout the planning and design process, we have been continually reviewing the scheme and there are some outstanding safety issues which need to be resolved before the project can be completed.

“The completion of the crossing is important to both us and our shoppers and we are working together to resolve any issues as soon as possible.”