Letter: Misery bridge

Misery bridge

Sir: Robin Rockel makes an interesting proposal for rearranging the South Bank (letter, 12 January), but recent debate has neglected what is most urgently needed by visitors to the South Bank: a sheltered crossing over the Thames. For almost half a century concert-goers have had to battle against the elements on Hungerford Bridge, where in rainy weather the footpath becomes a more or less continuous puddle. This public scandal (which inflicts misery on commuters as well as culture-vultures) should be remedied regardless of what may or may not be done to improve the South Bank itself.

A covered footbridge was the one wholly worthwhile feature of Lord Rogers' scheme for the South Bank. I seem to recall that in the late 1960s Jennie Lee, as Arts Minister, said she would tackle the problem; but she was in office too briefly to do so. Could not Chris Smith make it his business to bang heads together and achieve a giant step for Culture?

Professor A D ROBERTS

London NW5