We don’t need bridges to nowhere

If this project was initiated, it would be extremely difficult to achieve: the famous bridge between Sweden and Denmark, as seen on the BBC television series, is only five miles. Using Scandinavian management techniques, that project cost over two billion Euro. The 20-mile bridge is estimated to cost over 20 billion pounds to build; but given cost over-runs on projects such as HS2, is anyone confident that it would “only” be that sum?

Johnson’s time as Mayor of London, and his attempts to build a “garden bridge” there provide little comfort: the project didn’t come off, and the attempt cost £43 million of taxpayers’ money.

Furthermore, as someone who drives in Peterborough, and uses public transport to go to further afield, as someone who is keenly aware of how our NHS is presently overstretched, and as someone who can see the pressures on schools and class sizes, I have to ask, is this the best use of our money? Surely, we would get more “bang for the buck” using those funds to improve our existing infrastructure and public services?

I see parallels between this bridge proposal and Fletton Quays. With no grand vision, governments try to build “great projects” as a distraction from our day-to-day issues. Our city is snarled up with traffic, we have been battered by cuts: here, have a big shiny new building to divert attention from this. Oh, by the way, we’re going to use taxpayers’ money to loan to companies so that it’s occupied. Furthermore, we will grant multimillion-pound companies concessions as well.

Similarly, rail services are expensive, ill kept, and lack investment. Here, let’s have a high-speed rail link between Birmingham and London, which is of minimal benefit as it will continue to reinforce the central role of London in the nation’s economy. Those people who use local rail services will continue to await improvements to their service.

There is an intellectual laziness inherent in building bridges to nowhere. Having run out of ideas, they are not pursuing new ones. They are not even re-examining old ones, namely, that in order to have functioning public services, you need to ensure they have the resources they need. There is a choice inherent in these projects, a decision to go for the momentary click of the flash bulb as opposed to building a record of solid achievement.

The days are now, at last, getting longer; as the temperature rises and the evenings become more pleasant, canvassers will return to knocking on doors and putting forward our case: that we don’t need a Bridge to Nowhere and we don’t need Fletton Quays. What we need is a relentless focus on the basics which will make our city liveable, pleasant, and prosperous. I look forward to making that case on the doorstep personally in the days to come.