Margaret Hodge to review the concrete folly as we take steps to highlight access issues on Garden Br

This week, Michael Ball from TCOS spoke to BBC London News about former Public Accounts Committee Chair Margaret Hodge MP investigating the Garden Bridge at London Mayor Sadiq Khan's request: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMFknjmMqyg

We hope that Ms Hodge will honour her promise and talk to everyone that has had a significant stake in this project including us, as we shall be writing to her to request a meeting. However we are concerned that she stated on BBC Radio London onThursday that she is already "looking forward to talking to her [Joanna Lumley] about her view on how the process has been enacted to this point" and thinks it an "iconic idea" whilst in the same sentence, stating "I don't feel particulalry pro or anti" FWD: 1:13:15 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04733cd

And BBC Newsnight gives another update as Will Hurst from the Architect's Journal discusses the Freedom of Information documents that reveal just how much trouble the Garden Bridge Trust are in without the Department of Transport underwriting their guarantee - and Conservative MP Stephen Norris, former Transport Minister talks about why he thinks the bridge is such an abysmal idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqdmgLlzX78

In the meantime, please join us in taking STEPS this Sunday 25th September at 2.30pm on the Queen’s Walk i.e. the South Bank site where the Garden Bridge would land by the ITV’s building on the riverwalk. Please if possible, bring your domestic step ladders!

We propose to act out scenarios that highlight how dysfunctional the Garden Bridge would be for those with disability access issues The steps will attract attention and also introduce humour and colour. At some point we will place the steps in-line on the centre line of bridge to gain a greater understanding of the awful bridge and also attract further interest and amusement.

The Garden Bridge staircases would be the main access on to the bridge on the south side, with only two very small lifts at each end that’ll be undoubtedly used by many able-bodied people.

Salient points:

* From the South Bank Queen's Walk to the deck of the bridge 53 steps.

* From the Temple Tube Station to the deck of the bridge 68 steps

* A total of 121 steps to cross the bridge. •

* All the flights have too many steps, Building Regulations stipulates maximum of 12 steps, one flight has 21 STEPS.

This step access proposal is totally sub-standard and contrary to current expectation and acceptable practice. This proposal is discriminatory and also a health and safety hazard. We aim to demonstrate the exceptionally poor access design to the bridge further doubt will be fostered as to the credibility of the whole concept.

Please spread the word and do get in touch with any disability action groups who might be interested in highlighting the access issues problems that developers seem to ignore. Hope to see you there. Please take pictures/videos and post them online if you do come along - let's get the word out there, thanks!