‘Unsightly’ Barrier Blockades Thorney Hedge Road

Residents face being fenced in until November 2009

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West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society

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Thorney Hedge residents are feeling more than a little fenced in after an ‘unsightly barrier’ was erected blocking off part of their pavement. The frustration turned to anger when they discovered that the barrier is set to remain in position until November 2009.

According to the West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society, Hounslow Council approved the barrier without consulting local residents.

Chair of the Society Terry Thorn told ChiswickW4.com, “It is sheer arrogance on the part of the local authority to agree to close off the pavement at this point and in the way that had been done and thereby putting pedestrians and others at risk.

"Clearly the local authority is more concerned about protecting the site then the safety of pedestrians. Furthermore there is plenty of room within the site boundary to erect a barrier to close off the site without intruding on the public highway.”

The site in question is the former Lovell building at 610-624 Chiswick High Road. Planning permission to demolish and erect the new building was granted by the Sustainable Development Committee at the beginning of this year. However, WCGS noted that the report submitted to the SDC made no reference to closing off of the pavement at the entrance to Thorney Hedge Road or cutting back of mature plane trees adjacent to the site.

“We understand that building work on the site is unlikely to start for another two years. So the residents of Thorney Hedge Road, as well as pedestrians crossing it on the Chiswick High Road, will have to put up with this safety hazard and unsightly hoardings for at least this period of time, which is next to a Conservation Area” Mr Thorn continued, “Enquiries of the Council shows that they appear unconcerned about it.”

October 19, 2008