Proposals for a bridge between Twickenham and Ham have been criticised by Friends of Radnor Gardens' chairman, offering a "modest pontoon" as an alternative.

Architect Richard Woolf has been working on plans for a pedestrian and cycle bridge spanning 100m of the River Thames at Radnor Gardens since 2010 and last month appealed for support.

But chairman of the friends, Councillor Clare Head, who represents South Twickenham, said a bridge would be "intrusive" and not in keeping with the garden's character.

She said: "When you look out at Radnor Gardens, it looks the same as it always did two or three hundred years ago, modern life has not ruined it.

"A bridge would be a state-of-the-art, intrusive permanent edifice which would have people coming all the time and at night.

"You would also see a lot of cycle traffic and I would be worried cyclists will use the lovely flat paths just like at Richmond Park or Bushy Park.

"I never see people cycling on the paths [at the gardens] because there are so many people running."

Coun Head added the friends group hopes to focus on making the park more "runner-friendly" this year, as well as improvements to the café near the playground.

But while she opposes a bridge at the gardens, the chairman of the group said she was in the early stages of championing a new ferry crossing linking Radnor Gardens with Ham Lands.

She said: "At the moment, there are lots of discussions with marine engineers as well as a local man who has done every single pontoon in the area so he is really experienced.

"The ferry crossing, which was historically sited at the gardens anyway, would cost £60,000 to put in place instead of the £20m a bridge would cost."

Coun Head's vision is that the ferry operates from a pontoon, close to Radnor House School, for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the river each morning.

She said she hoped the potential scheme could lead to employment for Neets - a young person who is not in education, employment or training.

Dog walker Iris Galloway, from Twickenham, said: "I don't think it [the bridge] is a good idea, you are going to get people from the other side coming over and there could be trouble in the park.

"I think it would be intrusive and the fact that there are such a lot of council places could cause trouble."

She said she would be in favour of a ferry crossing instead of a permanent bridge.

  • Do you think a bridge at Radnor Gardens is a good idea? Or would you rather see a ferry crossing implemented instead? Let us know by emailing tom.ambrose@london.newsquest.co.uk.