Posted on August 2, 2016
By Elizabeth Henry, HorticultureWeek
A licence application to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for the construction of a new pedestrian bridge crossing the River Thames has been approved.
The marine licence for the Garden Bridge was granted after an Environmental Impact Assessment consent decision was completed.
The consent decision, which included public consultation on the proposed project, found potential impacts of the project had been fully assessed and where negative impacts were predicted they have been minimised.
The marine licence ensures that any activity will be regulated under Part 4 (Chapter 1) Section 66 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. This will cover bridge construction, dredging around the piers for installation of scour protection and relocation of four moorings from the Crown River Cruises.
It also includes dredging and structures required for the new berth area of HQS Wellington, a sloop which currently sits close to the site of the northern bridge landing.
The license decision comes as Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is set to look at whether taxpayers should continue to provide backing for the £175m bridge.
The Evening Standard is reporting Grayling’s office has asked the Garden Bridge Trust to provide information on money it has already spent and how it plans to raise the remaining funds, before agreeing to the trust’s request to extend a £15m Government guarantee to underwrite the bridge until September 2017.
Source: HorticultureWeek
