Hammersmith Bridge Closure: Council Asks For Army Assistance

The British Army has been asked to help with the closure of Hammersmith Bridge in west London.

In a joint letter to senior Army officers and the Defence Secretary, the chair of Richmond Council's transport committee and the local MP, Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney, asked for the Army's assistance, including potentially building an alternative public crossing. 

The bridge over the River Thames was completely closed on 13 August after council engineers found "structural weaknesses". It was closed to motorists last year indefinitely. 

It is thought an existing crack in the bridge had worsened following the heatwave earlier this month.

Local bodies are now in a race against time to find a solution, days before children in the area are due to return to school. 

The letter, appealing for help from the Army's Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and Royal Engineers, was described by the writers themselves as a "highly unusual approach".

It explains how local residents "raised the exceptional expertise of our Army engineers in dealing with similar scenarios overseas".

It goes on to request the use of Army engineers "to evaluate the possibility of (and if necessary deploy) an urgent bridge crossing".

Up to 16,000 people cross the bridge every day.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, deputy leader of Richmond Council and Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee, said the community needs "someone to step up".

"This is now critical. Without urgent funding, the Government is effectively blocking part of west London off from the capital," he said.

"Last week we saw hundreds of people protest at the bridge, urging the Government to put their hands in their pockets. The Government must listen.

"Whilst responsibility for the bridge does not lie with Richmond Council, we will explore every avenue that could offer some assistance to residents". 

Richmond Council is now working with Hammersmith and Fulham Council to see whether ferry services might provide a short-term solution, he added.

However, the Ministry of Defence has played down the Army's chance of helping.

A spokesperson said: "The UK Armed Forces are always willing to provide support to civil authorities where we are able to add value. 

"In this instance, having taken account of available capabilities, we have suggested that the task may be more suited to a civil agency or private company."

Cover image: Hammersmith Bridge after closure on 13 August (Picture: PA).