The Standard View: It's long past time to fix the Hammersmith Bridge fiasco

A local nuisance, a national embarrassment and international disgrace — just another day for the crossing formerly known as Hammersmith Bridge. Except it is now five years on from the initial closure and the bridge is still shut to motor vehicles.

This sorry tale has been told and retold. The Department for Transport, Hammersmith and Fulham council and Transport for London between them cannot agree a funding settlement and so nothing gets done. If it formed part of a plot on a costume drama, viewers would criticise the writing as too obvious and terribly clichéd.

But that isn’t even the worst of it. Even if the estimated £250 million cost of repairing the bridge were made available today, it would likely take another five years before it could reopen to traffic.

For the benefit of north, east and south Londoners, Hammersmith Bridge is no minor crossing. In 2019 it was carrying 22,000 vehicles per day including multiple bus routes. Its continued closure is severely affecting businesses and adding cumulative centuries to the commutes of workers. Fixing it cannot be beyond the wit of man, woman, Mayor and Prime Minister.

How much does it cost to fall in love? From today, if you’re a Briton wanting to live with a foreign spouse, the Government has a quite specific figure: £29,000 per year. That’s the new threshold to sponsor a partner, up from £18,600 and soon to rise to £38,700. Consequently, by next year 70 per cent of employed British citizens would not be able to “afford” a foreign husband or wife, according to the Migration Observatory.

It makes little sense on a policy level either. Those on a spouse visa already have no recourse to public funds and pay a hefty NHS surcharge. They are not great enough in number to significantly reduce net migration. This simply punishes British citizens foolish enough to fall in love with someone lacking the good sense to be born in this country. The Government has a right and responsibility to decide who and how many people come to our shores. It need not be cruel for cruelty’s sake.

The revival of Oxford Street continues apace, as the old House of Fraser store is set to reopen, replete with office space, shops, a restaurant as well as a gym and swimming pool complex. An American candy store it is not.

On reopening in 2025, the £132 million project will be known as the Elephant, with the owners confident the many exciting amenities will draw more shoppers, workers and tourists back to the West End. Not long to wait now.