New Brentford Dock Bridge Opening Hit by Controversy
Residents concerned they will be footing the bill for maintenance
The Brentford Dock Bridge. Picture: Muse
September 6, 2024
An official ‘opening’ ceremony was held this Wednesday (4 September) for the new Brentford Dock Bridge across the Grand Union Canal.
Cllr Tom Bruce cut the ribbon with other senior councillors including council leader Shantanu Rajawat, Cllr Katherine Dunne and Cllr Dan Bowring. However, the bridge wasn’t open to the public after the ceremony took place with the council saying it may not be fully accessible until next week.
The £2million bridge was built using section 106 funds from the Brentford Lock West scheme and links the housing with the Robin Grove recreation ground and provides a shorter walking route to Brentford station.
However, some residents of the new flats were unhappy to find that the maintenance and running costs of the bridge will be their responsibility including social rent and shared ownership tenants.
Although residents living close to the bridge will benefit from quicker access to public transport, those living in other blocks further south already have crossing points which means that the new bridge does not directly benefit them. The extra cost to residents of the bridge is not known but many are unhappy about further increases in accommodation costs on top of rent, mortgage and service charge rises.
Some are calling for the council to ‘adopt’ the bridge which would mean it would take on responsibility for related costs. If this is not done, there have even been some threats of a refusal to pay for maintenance leading to the closure of the bridge although it us understood that this is unlikely to happen.
The bridge was built as a joint venture between Canal & River Trust, Waterside Places and Muse together with partners, McAleer & Rushe and London Borough of Hounslow. Additional work has included improvements to Robin Grove Recreation Ground with Waterside Places also contributing funds towards lighting, CCTV and landscaping improvements.
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