Forum Topic

East Putney bridges refurbishment

I really hope the current bright blue and neon yellow aren’t the final colours - could these be base coats or undercoats? They look quite different from the renders shown on Wandsworth Council’s website: https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/news-february-2026/east-putney-bridges-set-for-colourful-refurbishment/Does anyone know if there’s been any clarification on this or if the final finish will be closer to the approved design? As it stands, the colours don’t seem very in keeping with the local environment.

Laura Kaye ● 94d32 Comments

It is perhaps important to point out that the cost was for two bridges and not just the paint job.The point made about consultation is a valid one. Perhaps in this case the fact that TfL, Network Rail as well as the council will have felt they should have had a say meant that involving the public would have added an extra layer of complication. Not an excuse but I know that when there is multi-agency involvement it can be difficult to anything done.For the record, I like how the bridges look. If you are not a fan of Ikea, think of them as a tribute to brave Ukraine!

Peter Higgins ● 1d

The example of Earlsfield Station is precisely the type of outcome that local residents have been referring to: https://www.wandsworthsw18.com/#!pages/wandsworthsw18:info:newearlsfieldbridge003. It demonstrates how a Victorian bridge can be sympathetically restored in a way that respects and complements the surrounding local environment.The concerns raised by East Putney residents extend well beyond matters of personal taste. They include important questions about transparency, design governance, public engagement, and the process by which the final scheme was selected and approved, particularly given that £600,000 was spent on the project.

Laura Kaye ● 10d

The colours are graffiti-proof or the paint?

Ivonne Holliday ● 14d

No one has yet picked up on the fact that these colours are graffiti-proof.

Darrell Barnes ● 14d

I quite like it and also understand that paint becomes less vivid as it weathers.

Peter Higgins ● 15d

Mail Online today, East Putney Bridge: “Residents fury over railway bridge given ‘garish’ £600,000 paint job in leafy London suburb”

Martine Guy ● 19d

Yes the colours are wrong surely a district Linegreen would be a good start.But the big problem for me is looking fromthe Co op the round red sign showing height of bridge must be moved to avoid covering up the P in Putney… it looks completely ridiculous and Is this TFL or Wandsworth councils mess?

Paul Beer ● 84d

I'm going to guess that the designers though the height restriction site could be moved but found out too late that it was legally required to be dead centre of the carriageway.

Peter Higgins ● 86d

I noticed that earlier. The low bridge sign obscures part of the P going Westbound... https://flic.kr/p/2sbYyUZ

Michael Ixer ● 90d

What do you mean?  Has someone taken the ‘P’ ?

Sue Hammond ● 91d

I totally appreciate that people will have different feelings about the colourway, but the design as a whole feels poorly thought through and lacking in thoughtful consideration. From the lazy lettering placement - partly obscured by the bridge height sign - to the fact they couldn’t even be bothered to clean or replace the sign itself. The overall impression is one of carelessness rather than intention. I also don’t know anyone who lives in “EAST UTNEY.”

Laura Kaye ● 91d

The bridges now have lettering announcing "East Putney" and the underneath is a bright "wheat field" yellow. Looks like some cleaning up of adjacent brickwork is now being done ...https://flic.kr/p/2sbMkQnhttps://flic.kr/p/2sbMkQx

Michael Ixer ● 91d

Oops, sorry about the multiple posts. Bounced the submit key while talking and drinking a glass of wine :-)

Michael Ixer ● 91d

That sounds good, Sue. Let's be positive and cheerful :-)

Michael Ixer ● 91d

That sounds good, Sue. Let's be positive and cheerful :-)

Michael Ixer ● 91d

That sounds good, Sue. Let's be positive and cheerful :-)

Michael Ixer ● 91d

I agree with you, Robert.While I agree that the colours are lovely, they are very much Ikea's logo and certainly not in keeping with the  conservation area and least of all with the style of the bridge.  A real pity!

Ivonne Holliday ● 91d

This is a classic Victorian railway bridge as shown in Laura’s link which is in a conservation area so whether people like or don’t like the colours are irrelevant.  It is not in keeping with the conservation rules of the area surely, or can we all now paint our Victorian houses whatever colour we want.,

Robert Wheeler ● 92d

Michael, you can join me and Richard in the bright and cheerful club!👍

Sue Hammond ● 92d

I thought it looked nice and bright  - and in Ukrainian colours! Although someone pointed out those should be a blue sky above yellow wheat fields.

Michael Ixer ● 92d

‘East Putney’s more like the entrance to dysneworld’ sicWell it’s just me channeling my inner child then?  Oh, and Richard

Sue Hammond ● 92d

https://canva.link/ox6kjjo3y4hkswu

Laura Kaye ● 92d

The residents of East Putney have been lobbying for a tidiied up bridge for more than 10 years. It was " so complicated, so difficult, involved so many parties, quasi impossible!". Finally it got the attention it deserved and this is what we get? Are all consultations going to suggest one thing and deliver something else? The initial suggested colours looked fine to me. what went wrong?Balham, Earlsfield bridges look like bridges East Putney's more like the entrance to dysneyworld?

Patricia Poulter ● 92d

I quite agree with you Laura.

Lucille Grant ● 93d

I really like it!  The colours are bright and my eyes were drawn to the height restriction notice which is a good thing and will hopefully prevent any more high vehicles crashing into the bridge.

Sue Hammond ● 94d

The colours will probably fade over time and look like what was originally proposed.

Nick Pallister ● 94d

I’m not disputing the proposed colour scheme in principle - the issue is that the finished result diverges significantly from the renders that were presented / approved.I’m also not taking issue with other bridges in London - that feels like a mischaracterisation of my point. In fact, the examples you mention demonstrate the opposite - they use colour in a way that responds to and complements the underlying architecture of the bridges, rather than working against it.

Laura Kaye ● 94d

Of course it's a natter of individual taste, but I rather like the proposed colour scheme; I don't think it's in the least vulgar - in fact it's rather jolly and livens up a rather dull bit of Putney.For comparison, here are Westminster and Lambeth Bridges, are they vulgar, do you think?

Richard Carter ● 94d

Agreed - the colours are garish, visually jarring, and completely out of step with the Victorian character of the bridge. They bear little resemblance to the design intent shown in the original renders, which makes the outcome all the more disappointing.There is a contact point for feedback, and it’s probably worth using if you want this taken further. The council states:“If you have any queries about railway bridge improvement works in the borough, email us at bridges@wandsworth.gov.uk.”Details here: https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/railway-bridge-improvement-works

Laura Kaye ● 94d

Who signed off the colours? It's just vulgar and vile and like an IKEA is round the corner.Why they couldn't have chosen a more Victorian colour palette to tie into the history of the station I'm not sure.

Gabrielle OMahony ● 94d

Colours are awful, surely East Putney Station is in a conservation area?  Colours are hardly in keeping with Victorian architecture.

Robert Wheeler ● 94d

All work seems to be completed now so this is the final result:https://flic.kr/p/2saGDtYThe undercoat (being painted on the right of the Waterloo-Wimbledon track bridge) was grey:https://flic.kr/p/2sbjThg

Michael Ixer ● 94d