John Humphries to Chair Debate on June 18 on Hammersmith Flyunder

Broadcaster John Humphrys. Photo: Wikipedia

A debate on the future of the proposed Hammersmith Flyunder - to replace the current flyover - is to be chaired by broadcaster and journalist John Humphrys on June 18 at Lyric Studio Theatre in Hammersmith.  The Flyunder is a hugely ambitious scheme that, if it goes ahead, has the potential to alter permanently the face of Hammersmith.

Hammersmith Flyover. Photo: Wikipedia

What is the Flyunder?

The Flyunder is a massive engineering scheme that would demolish the existing Hammersmith Flyover (see above) and replace it with a tunnel - the Flyunder.

Who is in favour of the Flyunder?

The Hammersmith Society, for one. The building of the Flyover in 1961, carving Hammersmith in two (and demolishing much Victorian housing) was one of the reasons that the Hammersmith Society was founded in the first place.

Who else is in favour?

Pretty much everyone, including London's mayor, Boris Johnson. After all, who wouldn't want to see this eyesore removed and traffic forced underground? The opportunity to re-join Hammersmith's divided neighbourhoods and see the end of big urban traffic jams sounds very appealing, at least in principle.

The Lyric Hammersmith - Wikimedia Commons 

So what's the problem?

Money. The cost of the project will be immense. Presumably it is only the recent rise in the value of real estate in our Borough that makes the project even worth talking about. But this surely means that, when the cars and lorries leave, luxury flats and office space will soon replace them. So, anyone dreaming of a leafy public park between Hammersmith and the River Thames may well be out of luck. The economics of the project will surely demand a maximum quantity of new build.

How it might look

To see more about the proposed flyunder, follow this link. And to buy tickets for the debate, click here.

----Alex

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