Pleas to build a bridge over the River Thames linking residents to a popular South London park have been rejected. Kingston Council dismissed a petition to install a footbridge connecting Surbiton to Bushy Park, near Hampton Court Palace, which was signed by 907 residents before being submitted in December last year.
Sanjeev Basi, who lives in Surbiton, started the petition after becoming frustrated by the “incovenience of current routes” to Bushy Park and Hampton Court. He told the council’s place committee on June 24 this caused traffic congestion and put people off from visiting the attractions.
The petition outlined how building a bridge from Surbiton to Bushy Park would boost footfall, help local businesses, raise property values, slash congestion and attract tourism. It called on the council to carry out a feasibility study to investigate the possibility of building the bridge.
The petition said: “The current routes from Surbiton to Bushy Park and Hampton Court are inconvenient and limit the area’s potential for growth. A footbridge would address these issues by offering a direct, safe, and scenic route, while unlocking commercial, environmental, and community benefits for the entire region.”
It added: “A footbridge would transform the area into a more cohesive destination for tourists, allowing easier exploration of Surbiton, Bushy Park, and Hampton Court Palace. Visitors would have the convenience of accessing all three areas without lengthy detours or the need for car travel.”
But council officers rejected the petition, as they said they could not justify setting aside significant resources to investigate the proposal in a new report. Designing and building the bridge would be difficult, the report said, as it would need to be high enough to allow boats to pass safely below, while the council would need to come to agreements with private landowners on either side.
The report added that while there was no direct route over the Thames from Bushy Park, there were still “numerous alternative routes and sustainable travel options available”. It confirmed the council did not consider it feasible to asses “the wider need, demand and potential usability of such a proposal to substantiate any of the benefits” outlined in the petition.
Councillors also argued the proposal was not feasible at the meeting on June 24, although they praised Mr Basi’s idea. Lib Dem councillor Roger Hayes said it was the third time he had seen such a proposal come forward, with the last time being 25 years ago.
“It remains a beautiful idea, but I’m also afraid it remains an utterly impractical one,” Councillor Hayes said.
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