'Brunch Crowd' Accused of Trampling on Wishes of Chiswick Locals

Tory councillors angry as committee waves through Cycleway 9

Hounslow Council says the number of cyclists has increased since Cycleway 9 has opened

People who only visit Chiswick for brunch are “trampling” over the wishes of locals with an experimental cycle lane, say Tory councillors.

The row comes as the Labour-run Hounslow Council shot down a Conservative challenge to the Chiswick High Road cycle lane.

The temporary two-way cycle route has divided public opinion after it was installed using “experimental” traffic powers that meant local opinions weren’t sought on the matter until after its installation.

The council says that the TfL-funded cycle lane is intended to promote healthy travel, increase safety and discourage car use.

The Chiswick Conservatives organised a “call-in” on 4 August, asking the council to re-think its decision to keep the cycle lane for another six-months. But members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee voted to push ahead with the new lane.

Turnham Green’s Tory councillor Joanna Biddolph, said, “We continually have decisions made about Chiswick that are just imposed on us by people who just do not know it.

“Driving through it or having brunch here is not knowing how Chiswick works, you have to know it as a resident or a worker.”

Chiswick Homefields councillor and Tory leader Gerald McGregor told the Local Democracy Service, “This current scheme, and the new Experiment Traffic Order is hopeless.

“There is a perceived lack of fairness, Chiswick residents feel they have been trampled on. The democratic deficit is clear here.”

The new cycle lane plan was “rubber stamped” by Hounslow’s leadership, “uses weasel words and lacks transparency”, Cllr Biddolph argued.

Defending the scheme, Hanif Khan cabinet member for transport, said London Mayors have consistently encouraged active travel.

He added, “The council transport strategy set out to reduce the dominance of cars on the road and we see that everywhere, where possible we want to take necessary steps to provide amenities to encourage walking and cycling.

“The pandemic has further highlighted the need for the benefit of urgently providing high quality cycling infrastructure.”

Council transport officer Jefferson Nwokeoma, said that between February and June 2021 average weekly cycle lane users increased from 1,239 to 2,316.

Mr Nwokeoma emphasised that the council was going “above and beyond” by engaging with the public for 21 days before starting the new temporary cycle lane.

Defending an alleged “failure to consult” in the last seven months, Mr Nwokeoma said 8,000 letters were sent to Chiswick’s 45,000 residents, as well as stakeholder emails and “town hall type events”.

Josh Mellor - Local Democracy Reporter

August 6, 2021