Garden Bridge: Boris slams GLA criticism as 'load of cobblers'

Ramzy Alwakeel18 December 2015

The Mayor of London slammed opposition to London’s garden bridge project as “a load of cobblers” during a public meeting at City Hall.

Boris Johnson faced questions from the Greater London Authority Oversight Committee on Thursday afternoon.

A report by the executive director of secretariat said there were “serious, strategic questions” to address about Transport for London’s procurement process for the bridge’s design and construction.

Len Duvall, leader of the London Assembly’s Labour group, told Mr Johnson: “We’re getting to the bottom of why rules and procedures are important and why you need to get on and do your job.”

Plans: An artist's impression of the garden bridge over the Thames

Mr Johnson cut him off, saying: “I think we need to get on and build this bridge.

“This whole thing is a load of cobblers and it’s all political.

“You just cannot bear the idea that a great project is going ahead. That is what this is all about. It’s a load of cobblers.”

Interactive graphic: New bridges planned for London

Mr Duvall retorted: “You can’t bear the idea, Mr Mayor, that you have to work with rules and procedures in terms of public money.

“That’s what we’re asking for and you as chair of TfL are ultimately responsible for it.”

A GLA report in September called into question the way TfL awarded the bridge’s design contract to Thomas Heatherwick – but TfL has insisted the process was “robust and fair”.

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