Why the Government Announcement on Hammersmith Bridge Matters
Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick
Andy Slaugher MP (second from right ) withDame Prue Leith, Delia Smith and Stanley Tucci at the Leiths Education event.
March 9, 2026
Friday before last, the Department for Transport announced that Hammersmith Bridge ‘would be a good candidate for investment’ from the Structures fund – an earmarked pot of money to repair ‘run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels across the country’.
The proposal in a letter from roads minister Simon Lightwood sets out a number of assessments needed before a decision on funding can be made, following which the Bridge Taskforce will meet to decide on a way forward.
This is a positive step as, until this point, no funding stream had been identified and central government had made only limited contribution to strengthening works. Hammersmith & Fulham council has thus far borne the burden of considerable cost needed just to keep the Bridge safe and prevent further deterioration. I will press the department on timescales, but at least after six years there is an acknowledgement that the Bridge is a strategic structure which is able to call on national funding in the first instance.
It has been back to business as usual in Parliament with a couple of busy weeks after a short recess. The Justice Committee held two lengthy sessions the week before last as part of our inquiry into access to justice, identifying sources of funds as well as areas of law where legal aid and advice is not available.
The Courts and Tribunals Bill was published recently, including the controversial proposals on reform of jury trails. The government is keen to speed this through to try and address the huge backlog of crown court cases, but it still needs proper scrutiny. As well as the changes to the jury system there is some very welcome additional funding for our understaffed and crumbling courts and long overdue plans to make them run more efficiently.
Last week, the Justice Committee was briefed on the Bill prior to its second reading which will take place this week. In other justice news, I chaired an event on Wednesday last week which focussed on clearing the court backlog.
On Wednesday last week I attended a drop-in event with Lobular Breast Cancer UK. Lobular breast cancer is the second most common breast cancer, but many have never heard of it. It is very hard to detect as the cancer grows more like a spider web rather than a lump usually associated with breast cancer. The event was a stark reminder that we need much more research in the area of lobular breast cancer and to help with earlier diagnosis.
A welcome announcement from the government this week has been their work on allergies for children in school. The plans include requirements for all schools to stock life-saving allergy pens, to have a dedicated allergy safety policy, individual healthcare plans for affected pupils and mandatory allergy awareness training for all staff. This is a hugely positive step forward for keeping children with allergies safe in school. Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, former constituent and founder of Natasha Allergy Research Foundation has said “We welcome this statutory guidance, and the confidence it can bring to schools, teachers, pupils, and parents to ensure that children with food allergies are safe and included at school.” Tanya’s daughter, Natasha, tragically died aged 15 from a food related allergic reaction.
I have had the opportunity to meet many local students recently and discuss with them my role as an MP and have wider discussions about our political system and the role of Parliament.
Latymer Upper School sent their politics students to Parliament for a day to understand how the place works. They enjoyed a tour of the Palace of Westminster and later met with me for a Q&A. Any local school is welcome to book a tour and talk, and this is easily done through the Education Centre.
I visited Bute House School and West London College last week where it was brilliant as always to speak with pupils and answer their thoughtful questions.
I also visited LAMDA in Hammersmith recently. LAMDA is not only a world-renowned centre for music and drama but, through LAMDA Exams, works with schools across the UK and internationally to develop confidence, clarity of speech and critical thinking in young people. We are lucky to have them in West London.
I was delighted to attend an event with Leiths Education, based in Hammersmith, last Thursday evening. The event focussed on the importance of cookery lessons for primary school pupils and the positive health and educational outcomes this has. Dame Prue Leith and Lady Caroline Waldegrave, founders of Leiths were there along with Maria Dunbar, the CEO. It was also a pleasure to be joined by special guests Stanley Tucci and Delia Smith.
As the month of Ramadan continues, it was lovely to be able to attend an Iftar event on Friday at Egyptian House. It was great to spend the evening with constituents of course enjoy some delicious food.
Constituents may be aware that the future of Pocklington Lodge, specialist housing for blind and visually impaired people, has become uncertain due to Thomas Pocklington Trust putting the building up for sale last year. Naturally, residents of the Lodge have been very concerned about what will happen to their tenancies and if the building will be kept as housing for blind and visually impaired people. The BBC have picked up on the story and written an article about the concerns of Lodge residents. I have been in touch with CEO of Thomas Pocklington Trust since the beginning of 2025 to put my concerns on record. My office has also written to The Charity Commission and raised the issue with Hammersmith and Fulham Council. I have now written again to Thomas Pocklinton Trust to request a meeting as soon as possible.
Finally, this week I have been deeply saddened by the scenes we have witnessed in the Middle East. My thoughts are with those in countries across the region who are caught up in the middle of this war. My office has been assisting those who have been stranded in the region due to the cancellation of flights, and we will continue to do all we can for constituents who may be stuck. Plase get in touch if you or a family member is in need of assistance.
Best wishes,
Andy
andy@andyslaughter.com
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