WATERLOO BRIDGE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 257, 12 October 1934, Page 12

WATERLOO BRIDGE

New Structure to be Built A dispute; which has gone on tor 11 years has been euded with the decision, reached by a vote of 7G votes to 47 ou the part of thu London County Council, the chief municipal authority ol the British metropolis, confirming recommendations made by the city experts to puli down at once and rebuild Waterloo Bridge. This bridge is regarded as one of the. most beautiful examples ol the work ol John Bennie, a famous eighteenth century architect. It is also one of the chief routes of street traffic in tile centre of London, where it. crosses tho Rivei Thames. Many thousands of people pass over it daily. Twelve years ago it began to collapse and had to be shored up with timber This interferes with the waterwai through its already exiguous arches. Road and river users have been inconvenienced. Artistic considerations for 11 years have so far prevailed over utilitarian ones as to succeed in preventing rebuilding, though unsuccessful in carrying through alternative proposals for repaid The House of Commons has

been jß'isuaded to disapprove ot rebuilding recommendations made first by a Conservative majority ot the London County Council and afterward by a Labour majority ol the same body. But tins disapproval lias gone only so tar as to deny the provision of national luuds lor the work. The London County Council’s latest decision means that the undertaking is now to be car. ried through, and that it is to be paid for from city as distinct from national resources.

Artists lament. The majority of river users think the right decision has been reached at last. What is expected to prove another sharp dispute ia due to occur later on when a decision will have to be made over competing models for a new structure, hi the meantime, there appears to be no further fence to lie got over to enable the existing bridge to be torn down.