'Obstructive' Street Sign On Turnham Green Terrace To Be Reviewed

Hounslow Highways agrees placing of new traffic sign is 'inconvenient' for pedestrians

Hounslow Highways is reviewing the positioning and mounting of this (above) road sign on Turnham Green Terrace following complaints that it is creating difficulties for pedestrians on the footway.

Councillor John Todd raised the matter with the Transport Department of Hounslow Council after people complained about the double posted sign on a section of pavement that is just 3 metres wide, leaving a gap of barely 1.5m to one side, and 1.0m between the two posts. The street sign directs traffic towards the High Road, and was installed some weeks ago to replace an older sign.

Hounslow Highways said that the location of the sign has not been moved and a sign has existed in this location for several years guiding traffic onto Chiswick High Road.

"The recent change has come about due to changes in legislation regulating street sign design requirements. The size of the directional sign exceeds that permitted on a single standard post of 100mm diameter as the wind loading would exceed that which the post can sustain.

"The twin posts have been erected in line with the design requirements of a directional sign of this size and it also meets the Disabled Discrimination Act (DDA) requirements of maintaining a minimum 1.2 metre clear width of footway for pedestrians. However, Hounslow Highways acknowledge that the positioning of the sign creates an inconvenient route of travel for pedestrians who have to divert to the rear of the footway to pass safely," they told Cllr Todd.

A review of the current arrangement is now underway with Hounslow Highways and Hounslow Council's Traffic Team looking at alternative solutions. As soon as a suitable solution has been found the sign and its supports will be amended to provide a more acceptable path for pedestrians in this location.

A local resident who drew attention to the sign said; "One of the posts is slap bang in the middle of the pavement, a clear obstruction and frustration to pedestrians, wheelchair users, parents with buggies, etc, as well as being a safety risk to anyone not looking where they are going. Injury accidents are merely a matter of time."

March 22, 2019