Failed London Garden Bridge project backed by Boris Johnson and Joanna Lumley cost taxpayers £43million before it was scrapped
- Transport for London spent £24m and £19m came from Department of Transport
- London mayor Sadiq Khan killed off the controversial bridge plan in August 2017
- Designing the structure cost £9million and project's executives received £1.7m
Boris Johnson's failed London Garden Bridge project cost £53million before it was scrapped, new figures revealed today.
The bill for taxpayers was £43million, consisting of £24m from Transport for London and £19m from the Department for Transport, while private sector donations made up the rest.
London mayor Sadiq Khan killed off the controversial plan for a bridge covered with trees and flowers in August 2017, after a damning report by Dame Margaret Hodge found it could have ended up costing more than £200 million.
The London Garden Bridge project, which was backed by Joanna Lumley, (seen on a TV programme on August 30, 2016), racked up a £53million bill before being scrapped. Pictured on the right: An artist's impression of what the bridge was going to look like
Former mayor Mr Johnson claimed his successor had 'killed it out of spite'.
The initiative had been championed by Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley but was abandoned amid bitter recriminations over the use of taxpayers' cash.
A Transport for London investigation revealed The Garden Bridge Trust spent £161,000 on a website and £417,000 on a gala event.
Designing the structure cost £9million and the trust paid its executives £1.7m.
Former mayor Boris Johnson (seen at the JCB HQ in Staffordshire on January 18) said his successor Sadiq Khan 'killed it out of spite'
The charity previously described the cancellation of the scheme as a 'sad day' for London because it sent a 'message to the world that we can no longer deliver such exciting projects'.
TfL's director of city planning Alex Williams said: 'As part of our continuing commitment to transparency, we have published the final financial breakdown for the Garden Bridge project, on behalf of the Trust, as well as all evidence sought as part of this review.
'We worked to ensure that the cost to the public sector has been kept to a minimum, and having carefully reviewed the Garden Bridge Trust's request, we have now confirmed the final payment legally required under the terms of the underwriting agreement made by the Government.
'This formally ends our involvement with the project.'
Caroline Pidgeon, chair of the London Assembly's transport committee, called the spending 'a total abuse of taxpayers' money'.
Boris Johnson has been criticised for other costly projects in the past, including buying three water cannons after the London riots in 2014 which were then banned from use by Theresa May, who was then Home Secretary.
The plan for a covered in trees and flowers (as in this artist's impression) was canned in August 2017
Mr Khan said he was scrapping the project to avoid costs ballooning further. He is seen at a conference in London on December 12
He splashed out some £320,000 to buy and refurbish them, and they racked up tens of thousands more in storage costs.
But after years gathering dust they were finally sold in November - for just £11,025 to a firm that will dismantle the machines and sell them for parts, London's City Hall said. That left the taxpayer with losses of over £300,000.
Mr Johnson is also known for his enthusiasm for major bridge-building projects.
He discussed the idea of a 22-mile road link across the Channel during a summit with Emmanuel Macron in January last year.
Then, after resigning from Mrs May's cabinet in July, he suggested a bridge between Britain and Ireland, an idea he has since reiterated.
An aerial view of The Garden Bridge, showing its location in the heart of central London
The bridge was intended to be a place of rest and recuperation for busy Londoners, with plenty of plants and trees
Most watched News videos
- Shocking moment woman is abducted by man in Oregon
- Moment Alec Baldwin furiously punches phone of 'anti-Israel' heckler
- Moment escaped Household Cavalry horses rampage through London
- New AI-based Putin biopic shows the president soiling his nappy
- Vacay gone astray! Shocking moment cruise ship crashes into port
- Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court over sexual offence charges
- Rayner says to 'stop obsessing over my house' during PMQs
- Ammanford school 'stabbing': Police and ambulance on scene
- Columbia protester calls Jewish donor 'a f***ing Nazi'
- Helicopters collide in Malaysia in shocking scenes killing ten
- MMA fighter catches gator on Florida street with his bare hands
- Prison Break fail! Moment prisoners escape prison and are arrested
