Local 'Garden Bridge' Project Makes Significant Progress
Architect appointed to develop The View at Barnes Bridge
A visualisation of the walkway looking toward Chiswick. Picture: Moxon
The project to create a green walkway across Barnes Bridge has made significant steps forward with the appointment of an architect and the branding of the scheme as The View at Barnes Bridge.
The proposal is to return the existing disused part of the railway bridge into a walkway between Chiswick and Barnes with landscaped planters and seating providing newly opened views of the river
Moxon, the architect responsible for the Duke Meadows Footbridge, which is due to be installed shortly and would pass under the proposed walkway, has now taken over the design. Its plans would see the two structures integrated with steps linking them.
The concept of restoring the original Barnes Bridge was first put forward by local Barnes resident Peter Banks. A team of residents got together to bring his idea to reality and gained the support of the Barnes Community Association. Network Rail eventually agreed to support the project and have been cooperating with local volunteers since 2016 with Richmond and Hounslow Councils also on board.
The walkway would be fully accessible. Picture: Moxon
Moxon’s new designs will be fully accessible with ramps and stairs connecting to the bridge walkway. On the Chiswick side this will run from Dan Mason Drive near the Dukes Hollow Nature reserve and there will be easy access approaching from the east or the west of the railway line.
From Barnes side of the river a ramp from the bridge will provide access. Stairs will run alongside the existing path, Long Walk, and take visitors up to the level of The View For anyone not wishing to use the ramp. The existing stairs to the train station platform will be replaced with more user-friendly steps and there will be step-free access to and from the rail platform for rail users coming from London to Barnes Bridge.
Barnes Railway Bridge. Picture: Google Streetview
A new website for the project was launched at the Barnes Fair which took place on Saturday 9 July and the next step is to put in place a formal agreement between Network Rail, Richmond and Hounslow Councils. Once this is done, the project team will be able to start fundraising. It is thought likely that the amount needed would be a small fraction of the £53 million spent on the Garden Bridge project by Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London.
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July 22, 2022