Judging by left of centre news outlets and social media, the proposed Garden Bridge across the Thames is the worst thing since George Osborne. Thus we find ourselves in an odd situation: the Right championing a piece of public expenditure based on greenery, one the Left seems to hate the very idea of.
Why? Is it because the whole thing was originally Joanna Lumley’s idea and she’s posh? Is it because Boris likes it? I suspect that’s probably a lot of it, the BoJo factor. Listen, guys, I disagree with Boris a lot myself too, but just because he thinks something is worthy it doesn’t automatically follow that the opposite is true.
Seriously, the outcry from some on the Left is so anti-Garden Bridge, you’d think the the city of London had allowed Wallmart to build a fox hunting track on the Thames. I know the Left is in crisis in Britain but has it really got so bad that decrying capital expenditure and creating green space in the middle of cities had become the new clarion call? Perhaps things are even worse than I’d thought.
It’s a bridge that will be covered in trees and plants, paid for mostly by the taxpayer. It sounds like almost a parody of what a far-left government would do as a priority if it managed to get a majority. Again, I genuinely want to know why the majority of the Left seems so full of loathing for the idea. And I mean it – people out there, please enlighten me.
And before anyone says, “I heard they are banning bicycles/groups of people/Green members from entering” let me remind you that as a public space, there is a lot you’ll be able to do to change any of this. Demonstrations, petitions: all that stuff you love. So any regulations you think will be imposed on such a bridge should be cause to ensure those regulations don’t come into force, not to take against the whole project itself.
In the meantime, I’m going to go on record and say I really quite like the whole concept of the Garden Bridge and think it will a nice addition to central London. For which I expect to be labelled a Tory without those chucking the epithet at me realising the irony.
Thomas C says
Usually like the blog but genuinely moronic question. Why would people concerned with social justice oppose a mayoral vanity project, in a part of the city well served by bridges, when the east of the city is desperately crying out for functioning bridges to boost its economic development?
I wonder?
Liking trees does not make you a socialist, it makes you an environmentalist. The left is intellectually broad enough to have issues with this that don’t involve, knee jerk anti-Lumley/Boris sentiment.
As with most things, its the opportunity cost, stupid.
Will Jennings says
Nick,
it really isn’t a left/right issue. Conservative members of the London Assembly oppose this project deeply. The reasons they have, and many Londoners share, are rooted in cross-party issues. Such as:
Loss of historic and ‘protected’ views from Waterloo bridge.
Privatisation of the city
Abuse of public finance on a private development
No proven need for a crossing in this location
Lack of transparency in the procurement
Greenwash and the fact it is very bad for the environment (hence so many green orgs oppose it)
Will Jennings says
if you would like further information about the opposition, please read some of the articles here:
http://www.afollyforlondon.co.uk/article
George Lee says
Blog written as seen through the prism of the Westminster bubble?
I am against this bridge because it is not appropriate for our time. A huge waste of resources supposedly to put trees and greenery on the river. I suppose you could say I am against if for reasons of environmental logic.
Really annoying to be dismissed by automated political cliches.
TCOS says
Poorly researched (if at all) ramblings of someone who hasn’t got a clue about the facts. The Garden Bridge would be a wholly private development borne out of robbing the public of open green space along the South Bank.
Thus “Demonstrations, petitions: all that stuff you love” would not be permitted at all.
The location is inappropriate as there is dangerous overcrowding along the river walk and LVMF protected views of London would be destroyed (look up LVMF Nick – do some homework)
The bridge would provide only 2400m2 of green space – none of it grass. That’s only 1/3 of a football pitch size of green planting upon a 6000m2 concrete path.
We’re not ‘left – nor are many of our supporters. So less of your deliberately inflammatory sweeping statements please.