No Cars and Buses on Hammersmith Bridge for the Foreseeable Future

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Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick

Andy Slaughter at the District Line control centre in Hammersmith

July 13, 2026

Hammersmith and Fulham Council have published its way forward on Hammersmith Bridge. The cost of a full restoration, which I have supported, has risen to £300 million on top of over £50m spent so far by LBHF on stabilisation.  

Given the new pot of money for bridge repairs for the whole country is only £1 billion, there is no prospect of reopening to cars and buses in the foreseeable future. 

LBHF have made an ambitious bid for over £100 million to complete works and improve the existing structure so the future life of the bridge for walking cycling and river traffic is assured.  Realistically, this is the best option available, though I would like to see some method of crossing from central Hammersmith to Barnes for those with reduce mobility.  On Friday visited the driverless pods being advocated for this purpose.

Andy Slaughter with one of the autonomous electronic pods which could be used to cross Hammersmith Bridge

I recently attended an event in Parliament to support the ban on trophy hunting, I spoke in the debate on air pollution on behalf of a family whose son died with pollution as a suspected cause, and took part in a debate on Palestine, asking why the UK is not joining other countries in banning illegal settlement goods.

I recently wrote to Thames Water after reports of further sewage spills into the river near Fulham Reach. I am very concerned that this is still happening even after the Tideway sewer is now fully operational. Thames Water need to provide a full explanation as to why this keeps happening and how they are going to fix it.

After the fatal fire on White City last month, I joined police and the fire service to meet with residents to provide reassurance and information at a difficult time for the community. My thoughts remain with the families of the victims.

Last week was filled with lots of events inside and outside Parliament. On Monday afternoon I attended Independent Age’s parliamentary event to let all MPs know about its work helping older people manage their money. They are a brilliant charity based in Hammersmith and I am very happy to support their vital work. On Tuesday morning I attended the National Prayer Breakfast in parliament with Pete Wynter, vicar of St Paul's, Hammersmith – a good way to start the day. I also met with a constituent who is an ambassador for Cancer Research to hear about the work she is doing with the charity to unlock funding for more treatments. On Wednesday evening I went along to Stamford Brook Residents’ Association AGM with local councillors to answer questions on Heathrow and Hammersmith Bridge.

Andy Slaughter with a constituent who is a Cancer Research ambassador

I also visited Hammersmith Station to see the District Line Control Room and meet with TfL to ask about delays on the District Line and the need for a timetabled service to Olympia. After this I headed on to the St Pauls Primary School art exhibition where I had the opportunity to see lots of brilliant creative work from the pupils on the theme ‘Me, Myself and I’.

Andy Slaughter at the pupils' art exhibition at St. Paul's Primary School

In justice news, the Justice Committee, as part of our youth justice inquiry, went on a trip to Nottingham Magistrate’s Court last Monday. We then had our regular evidence session last Tuesday afternoon about the work of the Crown Prosecution Service, joined by Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions. I made a speech at the estimates’ day debates on Home Office and Ministry of Justice affairs and asked the Lord Chancellor about Magistrates’ numbers at Justice Questions.

I asked the Solicitor General about delays in the criminal courts and spoke in debate on banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. Many constituents have been in touch with me this week to request my attendance at the debate and I was glad to represent them in this way.

Ballots opened last Thursday for nominations on who to replace the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. I placed my vote with Andy Burnham after his successful by-election win in Makerfield and hearing him set out his vision for the next few years of government.

Summer recess will begin on the 16th of July, with Parliament sitting again on Tuesday 1 st of September.

 

Best wishes,

Andy

andy@andyslaughter.com

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