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Garden Bridge: Grayling to probe finances as doubts linger

The finances of the controversial Garden Bridge are set to be scrutinised by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling before a final decision is made on whether to the government will continue to support the beleaguered project.

Grayling has asked the Garden Bridge Trust, the body in charge of building and running the proposed bridge, to provide extra information about the £36.5m that has already been spent on the project as well as where the final £30m of funding is to come from, according to the Evening Standard.

It comes as Grayling is set to decide whether to extend the government’s £15m underwriting of the project until next September, a key component without which the trust will struggle to drum up private investment.

The underwriting agreement will see taxpayers hit with the trust’s unpaid bills if the bridge does not go ahead.

The project, approved by previous Mayor Boris Johnson under controversial circumstances, has been met with significant opposition and setbacks.

Construction was due to begin this month but has now been put back to the Autumn after London Mayor Sadiq Khan, announced misgivings about more public money being lavished on enabling works.

The mayor has previously given his backing to the project, despite doubts about the transparency of the design competition which saw Thomas Heatherwick awarded the work, and outlined demands to make the bridge more open for Londoners.

Khan has said previously: “I expect the Garden Bridge Trust to ensure that the Bridge be closed fewer days each year for private fundraising events and fewer hours when they do. I also want a guarantee that an ongoing programme of visits will be laid on for local school children.”