Online meeting with Leader of Redbridge Council: Broadmead Road

An online meeting will be held, with Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of Redbridge Council, on 18 November 2024 at 6pm. Local people are invited to dial in, to hear about the condition of the bridge following assessments from structural engineers, and to find out the next steps for this crucial local infrastructure.

Cllr Kam Rai said, “I share in everyone’s frustration that the bridge is not currently open, and I am acutely aware of the disruption this is causing to people who live, work, or study near to this junction and in the wider area.”

“Following significant structural defects discovered during site inspections, we had no choice but to close Broadmead Road Bridge to vehicles to protect the public travelling over the bridge, and to protect people travelling on the tube line under the bridge. Now that much of the structural assessment is drawing to an end, it is clear that the bridge is not structurally sound to reopen to vehicles. It is nearly 90 years old, and has degraded over time.”

“We are lobbying regional and national government for funding for this infrastructure. Even if we had available funds for this, the work required is extensive and would likely take several years to bring the bridge back into full use. It is imperative we receive Government support after 14 years of under funding to local authorities – we have been stripped of around half our funding as a Council since 2010 and while we are stretching the funding we have as much as we possibly can to maintain our core services, we simply do not have millions to repair or rebuild this bridge. Since I became council Leader in July, I have written to the Secretary of State for Transport and met with the Deputy Mayor of London for Transport to outline the challenge we face, explain why the bridge is important and needs their assistance. I will continue to advocate for Woodford, and work to secure the funding we deserve..

“I strongly encourage everyone with an interest in the area to dial in to our meeting on 18 November. We will discuss the current status of the bridge, update you on the significant work that’s been undertaken while it’s been closed, and discuss the next steps.”

Please click on this link to join the meeting on Monday 18 November 2024 at 6pm: Link