Donors who gave to scrapped Garden Bridge want £7m back

A ROW has erupted over the Garden Bridge as the trust behind the project faces legal action from private donors who are demanding the return of £7 million in contributions.

The project to construct a tree-lined bridge over the Thames, between Temple and the South Bank, which cost taxpayers an estimated £46million, was scrapped last year after the trust failed to raise enough funds.

Private donors claim that the Garden Bridge Trust promised to give them back their money if the plan failed.

Michael Gross, founder and owner of Sydney & London Properties, who put £50,000 towards the Garden Bridge, said the “incompetent” and “irresponsible” trustees should be held responsible for making “a complete mess” of the project. He told The Architects’ Journal: “The money was p----down the drain by a bunch of incompetents and I feel conned.”

Freeths, a national law firm with offices in Mayfair, is acting for an anonymous donor who gave £250,000.

Christopher Clayton, a solicitor at the firm, told The Daily Telegraph: “We are keen to speak to any individuals who might have been affected… and who may wish to join forces with us to form a group action against the trust.”

In a statement, the Garden Bridge Trust said it had “taken great care” to ensure funds had been “correctly applied” in accordance with legal advice. “In all cases where the advice confirms funds as returnable under Charity Law, it is the intention and expectation of the trustees that they will be.”