Do you remember how the Millennium Dome became a political football?
Many critics thought that the Labour government led project was a white elephant that was doomed to fail.
In indeed, the Conservatives used every opportunity to discredit the Millennium Dome project and for a time, it looked as though the critics were going to be proven right.
Sharply in focus when the clocks chimed midnight on 31st December 1999, the Dome (as many called it) slowly, but surely, slipped from the consciousness of its most vociferous critics.
Later renamed the O2 (Arena), the Dome has now enjoyed huge commercial success and has become a venue of choice for many productions.
Turn the clock forward to today and another Thames-side project is coming under similar scrutiny.
The Garden Bridge – the proposed £175m Thomas Heatherwick designed garden spanning the Thames – has a long list of critics.
Some say it’s too expensive, some say the Garden Bridge Trust – set up to build the bridge – will never find all of the money needed to complete the project.
From the Financial times – “The Garden Bridge Trust are £50m short already on the money they need . . . to build the bridge,” said Michael Ball, who brought the legal case. “It seems likely . . . they will have great difficulty getting a private supporter to put an additional £90m on the line.”
Despite the fracas between opposing sides I think the Garden Bridge will be built and it will be a success. I also hope, one day, I get to walk across it and experience it for myself.
I guess, once the politics has ceased and the project gets under way the excitement can begin to grow but as sure as eggs is eggs there will be a lot of ‘I would not have planted that there’ commentary from the many gardeners that will surely pay the Garden Bridge a visit.
Source: Landscape Juice – Will the Garden Bridge Ever Be Built?
