Statement from GLA Oversight Committee Chair on the Garden Bridge

After three hours of intensive questioning during the GLA Oversight Committee meeting yesterday, Len Duvall AM, Chair of the Committee said:



“The admission that Transport for London (TfL) are still waiting to hear from the Garden Bridge Trust as to how much of the £20 million loan might be repaid, is shocking. Overall £46 million worth of public money was spent and frankly, as a minimum, the loan should be paid back. Whatever the final figures, TfL needs to ensure that the Garden Bridge Trust publishes detailed breakdowns of its pre-construction spending.



Somewhere along the line, the checks and balances have been loosened and I’m glad to hear that TfL changed its procurement processes after the Garden Bridge bids - and that Mayoral Directions have been changed to include more checks and balances. Public trust must be restored after this fiasco and the responsibility for that lies firmly at the feet of TfL.



The committee is very grateful to Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge MP for taking the time to brief us on her Independent Review into the Garden Bridge. Her testimony was surprising in a number of ways. If the bridge had gone ahead, she believes that it would have ended up costing the taxpayer at least £100 million. Also, that the concept of the bridge was fine – but the process was dubious. As she requested, the Assembly will play the leading role in ensuring her recommendations are implemented.”