This is a story written by Sarah Perret on behalf of the Richmond and Twickenham Green Party

A petition addressed to the Mayor of London from the Green Party calls for clarity, collaboration and certainty over the future of Hammersmith Bridge.

Lack of direction and funding from the government, Mayor and London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham means that residents are being asked to wait for years before the bridge is reopened to walking and cycling, while the promised ferry has no fixed starting date or information about what service will be provided.

The Hammersmith Bridge - We Need A Plan petition has three demands:

1. let Londoners know when the bridge can be safely reopened for walking and cycling: set a target date and stick to it
2. make an immediate plan to improve temporary transport links by providing safe, protected, well-lit routes for people to walk and cycle on either side of the river, connected initially by the ferry and eventually the bridge when it reopens to walking and cycling
3. reassure Londoners that the ferry service starting in the New Year will carry bicycles and be free to use.

Cllr Andree Frieze (Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside) is deputy leader of the Green group on Richmond Council. She said: "Currently no one in government, Transport for London or Hammersmith & Fulham Council is taking responsibility for fixing Hammersmith Bridge.

"It is being used for political point scoring, with each party more concerned about making the other look bad than actually helping residents.

"It is time for all the stakeholders to collaborate properly and provide West London with certainty and clarity about what is happening."

Zack Polanski is Green Party West Central London candidate for the London Assembly.

"He said: "As a direct consequence of the bridge being out of action, residents on both sides of the river are suffering. They are being denied access to hospitals, schools and friends and family. They are effectively being cut off from the other half of the capital - this is totally unacceptable situation."

Related coverage:

Timeline for repairs with no reopening until 2027

Residents 'like pawns' in a game over Hammersmith Bridge

Coach over the river for Richmond pupils is rejected

71% in Richmond impacted by closure, survey finds

Breakthrough on Hammersmith Bridge repairs delights Richmond's MP

Heavy traffic in Richmond because of Hammersmith Bridge closure

Richmond Park MP is running out of patience with unprecedented lack of response from Government on Hammersmith Bridge closure

Richmond bids to bring in army to fix Hammersmith Bridge

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[i]Many thanks to Sarah who contributed this piece for our online newspaper.

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