Experimental traffic schemes
The temporary road closures affecting Chiswick and Bedford Park continue to provoke very mixed reactions from pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and local businesses. The changes include the trial road closures of Turnham Green Terrace, Devonshire Road and Fisher’s Lane; restriction on motor vehicles entering Duke Road from the High Road and road closures at the junctions of Wellesley Road and Stile Hall Gardens with the South Circular (A205).
There continues to be heated debate about the traffic trial schemes with issues further complicated by the closure in November of Acton Lane for the Thames Water emergency works.
We remain committed to working on behalf of the Society’s members and local residents to try to ensure a positive outcome from the trials, which would ideally provide improved access to Chiswick High Road, Turnham Green Terrace and Devonshire Road for cyclists and pedestrians, while at the same time minimising — to the greatest extent possible — any adverse effect on the free flow of public transport, and commercial and private vehicles in the area.
We are concentrating our efforts on ensuring that any permanent proposals that emerge from the current temporary schemes provide for an appropriate balance of interests amongst all road users — pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and local businesses. To this end, we are building on the effective lines of communication we have established with local councillors to encourage them to work together to propose a constructive way forward for Ealing and Hounslow. We are also establishing what criteria the councils are planning to use as a test for the success of the measures currently being trialled to ensure all stakeholder interests are represented, in particular those of local residents.
Information on Hounslow’s Streetscape programme can be found on the Hounslow website.
Turnham Green Terrace reopened
When Thames Water extended their emergency works on Acton Lane into late November, Hounslow Council suspended access restrictions for Turnham Green Terrace and this continues for the time being.
As a result of the temporary suspension of through traffic, enforcement of the restrictions and issuing of PCNs has ceased (with restriction signage removed) but the experimental parking restrictions remain in place and will continue to be enforced.
The loading/unloading and blue badge parking bays replacing the previous pay and display bays are clearly marked. The “loading” bays may be used by all vehicle users who are picking up or dropping off items at businesses and not just those traditionally classified as “goods” vehicles. Loading/unloading is limited to a maximum stay of 20 minutes.
Improving the Terrace
A report, prepared by leading transport engineers Urban Movement, suggests a range of improvements for Turnham Green Terrace — including a piazza outside Turnham Green Tube Station, more zebra crossings, public spaces and widened pavements, whilst retaining some parking, as well as through traffic.
The proposals are the result of a community workshop organised by group of local architects and planners. You can read the press release, full report and find out how to send your views here.
The deadline to submit comments was 4 January. All the comments received are to be included in the submission of the group’s recommendations to Hounslow Council.
Fisher’s Lane closed
Ealing Council have implemented the temporary closure of the Fisher’s Lane underpass to all traffic except buses, cycles and emergency vehicles.
Ealing Council have now promised an interim report rather than waiting for the completion of the six-month period of the trial although terms of reference and criteria are not yet known.
Comments and consultation
The councils state that a number of these changes are being introduced as Experimental Traffic Orders (therefore not requiring consultation) and that feedback will be reviewed to determine whether they should be continued beyond the trial period. If the councils decide to take any of the schemes forward on a permanent basis, they will have to launch a formal consultation at that point and residents will have an opportunity to make their views known.
Hounslow Council have announced that following the completion of an interim (3-4 months) and a final (7-8 months) review by an independent consultant into the temporary traffic schemes, all Hounslow residents will receive notification of a link to the reports.
Feedback will be accepted up to the end of the trial and residents asked for final comments on the schemes in early January.
As mentioned above, Ealing Council have now promised an interim report rather than waiting for the completion of the six-month period of the trial although terms of reference and criteria are not yet known.
It’s important to make your views known directly to the relevant local authority:
- To provide feedback on the Hounslow schemes, you should complete the consultation feedback form and/or email: traffic@hounslow.gov.uk
- For further information or to make comments on the Fisher’s Lane scheme, email: COVIDtransport@ealing.gov.uk
We’ve also been asked to let you know about a local initiative — a petition organised by a resident who is concerned about a number of issues relating to the road closures. You can find details here.
Temporary Cycleway
A temporary version of the Cycleway 9 affecting the way traffic is managed between the junctions with Heathfield Terrace and Goldhawk Road has now opened.
Unlike the original plans for the segregated cycleway, there is no use of pavement space or removal of trees but the designs introduce a bi-directional cycle lane taking over existing bus lanes and restricting motor traffic to a single lane each way for much of the length of Chiswick High Road.
You can see a summary of the changes and the design for the scheme on ChiswickW4.com.
In addition to traffic congestion during the building of the cycle lane, there have been many comments made about the temporary scheme, including some concerns about potential safety issues for both cyclists and pedestrians, such as the complicated junctions, revised zebra crossings and bus stops, and changes to the way vehicles enter/exit side roads. TfL have said that once the works and Thames Water repairs have been completed, traffic flow “will settle and improve.”
They have asked for continued feedback from residents on the project and state that they have already made changes in response to issues raised, including removing incorrectly installed signage at Dukes Avenue and introducing new loading bays along the High Road.
To submit your views, including raising any safety concerns:
- Hounslow: complete the feedback form and
- Transport for London: email streetspacelondon@tfl.gov.uk or fill in the survey.
