Network Rail has demolished the Irrigation and 100 Acre bridges. This is despite over 1000 people signing our petition to save them.
We are determined to make sure this is only a setback for the ambitions to create a new Wandle Metropolitan Park stretching from Beddington Park to Mitcham. This vast area of open space - more than three times the size of Hyde Park - has never been coherently managed and much remains off limits.
If the loss of the bridges can have a silver lining it is to reignite the momentum to deliver a new open space for London. The first green shoots are visible. Over 500 supported our petition for Sutton Council to back a replacement bridge. Sutton Council has said that "now is the time for action" and Sutton Council Leader Ruth Dombey has told Wandle Valley Forum that she is "glad to work together to find ways of providing pedestrian access. Important for the future of the park." Following a debate on the petition Sutton Council has agreed to work with us and local groups to find a way forward.
As a first step one thing is certain - any sensible plans for future public access are going to need better access over the railway. Sutton Council is already building a new school right next to where a bridge will be needed. A next step is to include an enabling policy in the new Sutton Local Plan.
We are determined to make sure this is only a setback for the ambitions to create a new Wandle Metropolitan Park stretching from Beddington Park to Mitcham. This vast area of open space - more than three times the size of Hyde Park - has never been coherently managed and much remains off limits.
If the loss of the bridges can have a silver lining it is to reignite the momentum to deliver a new open space for London. The first green shoots are visible. Over 500 supported our petition for Sutton Council to back a replacement bridge. Sutton Council has said that "now is the time for action" and Sutton Council Leader Ruth Dombey has told Wandle Valley Forum that she is "glad to work together to find ways of providing pedestrian access. Important for the future of the park." Following a debate on the petition Sutton Council has agreed to work with us and local groups to find a way forward.
As a first step one thing is certain - any sensible plans for future public access are going to need better access over the railway. Sutton Council is already building a new school right next to where a bridge will be needed. A next step is to include an enabling policy in the new Sutton Local Plan.
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