Wandsworth Council has formally called for the Mayor of London to take responsibility for Hammersmith Bridge, arguing that sustained mayoral leadership and funding are now required to end a period of prolonged disruption that has affected residents and road networks across south-west London.
Council presses mayoral role as long-running closure bites
The request follows a recommendation by Hammersmith & Fulham that limited funding should prioritise keeping the bridge open for pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic rather than delivering a full restoration capable of carrying vehicles, buses and emergency services. Wandsworth’s leader, Councillor Robert Morritt, told colleagues that the moment has arrived for a different settlement on the bridge’s future as wider discussions about devolution of powers to city-level government are under way.
“This is a moment for leadership, not managed decline. After seven years of disruption, the time has come to transfer responsibility for Hammersmith Bridge to the Mayor of London, with the powers and funding needed to get this strategic crossing properly restored.”
Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to motor vehicles since 2019, a decision that has pushed traffic onto neighbouring crossings such as Putney Bridge and increased journey times for drivers and buses. Wandsworth says that this diversion of traffic has worsened congestion in surrounding streets and reduced public transport resilience across south London.
Local effects and stakes for residents
The council argues the bridge is not merely a local nuisance but a strategic Thames crossing whose restricted use has knock-on effects for everyday journeys, bus timetables and the ability of emergency services to move across the river. Wandsworth councillors are urging national and city-level leaders to use the current devolution agenda to place accountability with the mayor—working alongside Transport for London and the boroughs—to secure a properly funded plan for full restoration.
- Closure to motor vehicles: since 2019.
- Immediate council stance: Wandsworth calls for transfer of responsibility to the Mayor of London.
- Hammersmith & Fulham position: recommends focusing funding on pedestrian, cyclist and river access rather than full vehicular restoration.
Wandsworth’s appeal highlights a tension between borough-level priorities and the scale of investment and co-ordination that may be required to reopen the bridge fully. The council says residents in Putney, Roehampton and other parts of the borough cannot be left with a “half-baked plan” that fails to restore bus routes and access for emergency vehicles.
| Issue | Current situation |
|---|---|
| Vehicle access | Closed to motor vehicles since 2019 |
| Pedestrians and cyclists | Remained a focus for limited reopening plans |
For local residents, the debate over who holds responsibility will be judged by whether it produces a credible timetable and funding package that restores reliable river crossings and eases pressure on neighbouring roads. Wandsworth has pledged to continue championing a full reopening and is calling on the Government to seize the devolution conversations to put responsibility "where it belongs": with the Mayor, partnered with TfL and the boroughs.
The appeal adds a new political dimension to a technical and costly infrastructure problem that has persisted for years. Any transfer of responsibility would require agreement on funding, statutory powers and a delivery plan involving multiple authorities; until such a settlement is reached, the bridge’s long-term future and the scope of its reopening remain contested.
