Protestors Block Chiswick Traffic Scheme Work

Residents say opposition a result of Hounslow Council's 'bullying approach'

Grove Park residents protest agains removal of traffic island

Hounslow Council says that work to remove a pedestrian refuge on Staveley Road due to take place this Monday (14 September) has been blocked by protestors.

The Council wants to install a barrier at Staveley Road/Park Road junction on a trial basis but Hounslow Highway’s street maintenance team were unable to start work after a group of residents reportedly restricted their access to the site.

The Park Road Neighbours Group says that they are protesting against what they describe as bullying by the Council. They claim that the red and white bollards to be placed at the junction of Staveley Road and Park Road are against Department for Transport Covid-19 guidance and no proper Road Safety Audit has taken place particularly with the regard to the impact the removal of the traffic island will have on the elderly and the vulnerable.

They further claim that the cost of the scheme has increased from £2,000 to £20,000 and it would cost another £50,000 to restore the pedestrian refuges.

A petition has been launched against the scheme which has been signed by 179 people and, according to the residents’ group, only four people responded positively to the council’s suggestion during its consultation.

One resident said, “Hounslow Council is taking an arrogant bullying approach and we are protesting against that. They are ignoring local residents and ward councillors. We have offered to have proper discussion with Hounslow Council but they have rejected it.”

The implementation of this scheme is part of the wider South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood programme which started in 2019. Feedback from residents, schools, businesses and local community groups has been reviewed along with data on traffic volumes, speeds and movements across the area. The Council says that feedback received about traffic along Staveley Road all concur that currently the road is seen as dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists alike and that the existing traffic calming measures are not effective.

In May this year, the Government issued new statutory guidance under the 2004 Traffic Management Act, in response to Covid-19, requiring councils to act as ‘swiftly as possible’ to encourage a change in travel habits before restrictions are eased so that people can walk or cycle more safely while observing social distancing.

The Council says that the traffic island needs to be removed to allow access for larger vehicles such as refuse trucks, when the new barrier preventing through traffic is installed and that the reduction in traffic speed in the area will make it safer for pedestrians.

Cllr Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport at Hounslow Council said, “I want to reassure residents that, as with all of our Streetspace schemes, this is a genuine trial and that officers and Councillors retain an open mind as to whether this is the right solution for this location. We do however continue to believe there is merit in the proposals as a way of achieving the objectives of the Streetspace programme, and would like to implement this as soon as possible to get the trial underway so that we can understand the effect of the scheme and amend if necessary in the light of actual impact.

“It’s important to remember the bigger picture about what we’re trying to achieve. We want to reallocate space on our roads to enable people to walk and cycle safely, reducing air pollution and supporting more active, healthy lifestyles and stopping people using residential streets as rat-runs. This may inconvenience some, but we know that many residents support this scheme too.

“We very much value feedback provided by local road users on this and other schemes which will be an important consideration in determining whether or not to make this arrangement permanent. We expect to take the decision in the first half of 2021.

“We know there will be some people who are inconvenienced by Streetspace measures, and we know many people are very supportive of them. However, it is not acceptable for people to physically stop these trials just because they don’t want them. Please air your views using our consultation or by emailing our transport team, rather than putting yourselves and our Highways Team at risk.”

Grove Park resident Mike Smith said in response to Hanif Khan’s statement on the scheme, “You did not canvas the opinion of any local residents prior to designing this overall scheme for Grove Park – the Staveley Road/Park Road junction is merely the tip of the iceberg. Residents local to the individual schemes may have commented in general, as everyone is in favour of reducing the through-traffic. It is the negative impact that the overall scheme has on local residents in Grove Park that is the issue. An overall ANPR scheme in Grove Park allowing residents free access is the obvious solution, both from an environmental perspective as well as minimal disruption for local residents.”

You can make comments either by participating in the Council’s online consultation or by emailing the transport team on traffic@hounslow.gov.uk.

September 20, 2020