Hammersmith Bridge

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 7:31 pm on 14 April 2021.

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Photo of Rachel Maclean Rachel Maclean Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) 7:31, 14 April 2021

I want to address one further inaccuracy. If I have time after that, I will take an intervention.

As with any local infrastructure project, the Government expect the local authority to take the lead in promoting the scheme. We have heard from the leader of the council, who does not believe that the borough has the capital funds available to meet the costs of repairing the bridge. Indeed, on several occasions he has said that his residents are not users of the bridge and should therefore not be liable for the works.

In discussions with the leader of the council and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, various options for contributions for funding the project have been discussed. Unfortunately, the council seems to look to the national Government with gold-tinted lenses, not understanding that we cannot and will not hand out a blank cheque for the works. How would that be fair to taxpayers up and down the country and to those who have been responsible, such as the constituency of my hon. Friend Felicity Buchan? This is what councils all over the country have to do when they are carrying out major infrastructure works.