A climate change charity is calling for Hammersmith Bridge to be permanently closed to petrol and diesel vehicles in a shift to making it a green route across the Thames.

The Possible organisation says removing traffic and switching to electric powered green pods, coupled with cycle lanes and pedestrian paths lined with planting would be a better option.

The bridge was closed to all users in August 2020 after cracks were discovered in the structure of the bridge, which was built in 1824.

The closure has caused enormous inconvenience to residents on the Barnes side of the bridge and people from Richmond borough travelling by car and bus into the centre of London.

At the same time, traffic has been pushed to use other routes via Chiswick and Putney bridges, which has led to congestion and pollution.

A greener vision of the bridge. Credit: Possible.

There have been years of wrangling over the cost of repairing and re-opening the Bridge with the government accused of delaying offering a financial commitment to the scheme that would support the massive rebuilding costs.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is the lead authority dealing the future of the bridge and – in the absence of more government cash - it has suggested that the work could be part-funded by the introduction of a toll.

The bridge re-opened to pedestrians and cyclists in July 2021 however the cost of returning to the point where it can carry road traffic is expected to cost 'hundreds of millions of pounds'.

The group Possible argues that its solution could be achieved by spending as little as £10million.

The plan involves a two-way protected cycle lane running across the bridge, plus a fleet of battery operated autonomous pods available for people who cannot easily walk or cycle.

Co-director of the charity, Leo Murray, said: "In the four years since excess motor traffic broke Hammersmith Bridge and it was forced to close to cars, vehicle counts show that traffic has actually fallen across south-west London, even in key places where some local people believe it has got worse.

"With still no funding agreement in sight for the hugely costly work which would be needed to reopen Hammersmith Bridge to cars, it's long past time for authorities to take other options for meeting local transport needs seriously.

"Our proposal looks to the clean transport technologies of the future, and could genuinely be in operation serving local communities within months.

"All we need to go ahead is for the councils to agree to let us carry out a full feasibility study."