Tag Archives: Great West Road

by loukit | October 2, 2026 · 11:17

West London Orbital Railway: Wood Lane Level Crossing and other matters

Wood Lane Level Crossing

Tomorrow, Saturday 3 October 2026 from 11:00 am to 2.00 pm

Drop In at Old Isleworthians Sports Ground

22A Wood Lane, Isleworth, TW7 5ED

With numerous advantages of increased passenger rail services being offered on the Hounslow Loop in the Mid 2030s, one drawback could be how to then cross the track at Wood Lane.

The promoter, in their recent letter to residents tells us,

“We would potentially need to make changes to how some level crossings operate, including the crossing on Wood Lane in Isleworth. This is due to possible safety concerns caused by increased barrier down time, if the additional WLO services were to use the crossing. We are looking at ways to keep the crossings open, and if they did need to close, we would ensure that pedestrians and cyclists were still able to cross the railway safely and conveniently.”

The West London Orbital people do acknowledge numerous challenges and a section of the WLO website on all three level crossing locations can be found here.

Should it turn out that, after vigorous examination, it may not be a viable to maintain a surface crossing here, OSG Ward councillors will insist on a safe and convenient crossing route for pedestrians. In ten years, nothing less a passenger lift for those wanting to reach London Road from the roads of Northumberland Estate and those in east Spring Grove and Osterley would be acceptable.

West London Orbital: Indicative timescale 2026 to 2035

It’s very early to surmise. Residents’ comments on this very important aspect of the not fully worked up ideas for the WLO will be very much expected. Much more information is contained behind this link

The West London Orbital Team will be holding a “Drop In” for all to attend to discuss any aspect of the current proposals at the Old Isleworthians Sports Ground, details above, at the start if this item.

Subsequent and similar events will events also occur on,

Thursday 22 October 2026, 16.00 to 19.00 London Museum of Water and Steam, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, TW8 0EN and

Saturday 7 November 2026, 11.00 to 14.00, Hounslow Library, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB.

TfL’s West London Orbital have shared the following very interesting briefs on how the two OSG Ward Stations would fare as part of its proposal, not least staffed stations, something many of us have long time missed:

Isleworth Station

Syon Lane Station;

Elsewhere: Hounslow; Brentford; Lionel Road

You can contact the Transport for London West London Orbital Team about the proposals in the following ways:
• Email: WestLondonOrbital@tfl.gov.uk
• Phone: 020 3054 6037 (call back service) – please leave a message stating you want to discuss the West London Orbital proposals
• Write to: FREEPOST, TfL Have Your Say (West London Orbital).

TL 2.10.2026

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Filed under Brentford, College Road, Events, H28 bus, London Road, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Northumberland Estate, Osterley, Public transport, Roads, Spring Grove, TfL, Traffic, West Middlesex Hospital

Tagged as Bus route H28, Great West Road, Hounslow Council, Hounslow Highways, Isleworth Station, Osterley & Spring Grove, Ruth Cadbury, Spring Grove, SWT, Syon Lane, TfL, Wood Lane

by loukit | April 2, 2026 · 09:11

Life’s a Gas: Northumberland Avenue closed at Syon Lane 6 to 17 April 2026

Continuing the home gas connection replacement programme in our area, permission for a temporary road closure at the junction of Syon Lane and Northumberland Avenue. Cadent Gas has written to residents towards the West of this location, as shown here.

Cadent Gas has a permit to facilitate urgent gas works, renewing a critical connection by Northumberland Gardens, as shown here, expected to last a fortnight. However, advice is, to allow for any unexpected delays or possible remedial works, the Traffic Order will remain in force for up to 21 days, or until the works are complete, whichever is the earlier.

Only works and emergency vehicles would be able to use Northumberland Avenue from Syon Lane.

The nearside northbound lane between Syon Lane Station and Northumberland Avenue will also be restricted for the duration of works, as illustrated here,

Due to limited access to and from the Northumberland Estate, rerouting will be in place, as on this extensive diversion map. Advice would be for short cut and rat run traffic to avoid passing through the area.

Osterley and Spring Grove Ward councillors did enquire why Cadent would not fulfil these works during the Schools Easter Holidays, instead of a week later. The advice was that, because this week (30.3. to 3.4.2026) was short, the site would have been left unworked. Starting works for four days and not returning for three, could give mixed messages to the travelling public and would increase the number of working days on site.

Hounslow Highways have assessed the duration of permit in detail and will be monitoring the progress on daily basis.

The Cadent works reference is IMGA272232 and they can be reached at 0800 0854 478, email customercarelondon@cadentgas.com .

Keep safe. Wishing you a peaceful Easter.

TL 2.4.2026

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Filed under Great West Road, Hounslow Highways, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Northumberland Estate, Road works, Roads, Traffic

Tagged as Cadent Gas, Great West Road, Osterley & Spring Grove, Ranjit Gill, Syon Lane, Tony Louki, Unsa Chaudri, Wood Lane

by loukit | May 15, 2025 · 14:40

Skidmarked Donuts in the Dark at Syon Lane

In recent times, it seemed that those running Tesco on Syon Lane cared little about its neighbours and its facilities after it closed its doors. Very little helped.

Big Tesco, Syon Lane

Often, after dark, people living at this end of Osterley and Spring Grove Ward would be subject to invasion of and noise from the northern end of the store car park. Revved engines, screeching wheels, burning tyres would wreak and interrupt calm and sleep of the 400+ households of afterhours North Isleworth.

Skidmarks at Osterley Tesco expansive car park

The persistence of some concerned residents raising this with councillors (sharing sound and vision footage) and its being referred to the OSG Ward Police and Hounslow Council’s Community Safety Team via the Ward Police Panel, led to a pretty positive onsite meet, earlier this week.

Brokered by LBH Safer Communities Coordinator Tara Doyle, I also met, Ward Police Sergeant Dhillon, Tesco HQ ASB Partnerships and Community Manager, Luke Smith, Osterley Tesco Store Manager, Paul McNulty, nearby resident, Mr Catherall and OWGRA’s Barbara Stryjak.

Donuts and Good Boys. Sgt Dhillon, T Doyle, L Smith, P McNulty, G Catherall, B Stryjak. Photo by T Louki

By the burnt rubber marks from a recent episode, one of the many (but not extensively laid) hard plastic ramps installed following Sergeant Dhillon’s earlier intervention and a newly placed ‘Dalek’ camera, triggered to film noisy additional goings on, we discussed further ideas, not least a better barrier locking regime after closing but it’s not over, more developing.

Recently located, portable Dalek CCTV installed to capture images of transgressions within the Tesco car park

Residents witnessing ongoing incursions are encouraged to call and report on 999.

TL 15.5.2025

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Filed under Great West Road, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, RAs, Roads, Traffic, Wyke Green

Tagged as Great West Road, Hounslow Council, Osterley & Spring Grove, OWGRA, Syon Lane, Syon Park Gardens, Tony Louki, Wyke Gardens

by loukit | April 8, 2024 · 11:51

Great West Road Firestone site: Redesign proposal

A little before Christmas, the planning agent for 6 West Cross Way wrote to say that they’ll not be facilitating a tree outside the former Firestone building location as had been kindly placed by owners Legal & General in 2021 and 2022.

Proposed amendment to the former Firestone Factory site scheme

Councillors were also told to expect an application for minor amendments to the planning permission approved in November 2022. The existing scheme, (reference P/2021/4973) which was going to be built for Tesla, currently includes a car showroom, car workshop, MOT testing facilities, offices floorspace, new vehicle access points, service yard, basement car parking, landscaping, boundary and other associated works.

Tesla has pulled out and L&G is now looking at how best to make sure this scheme is delivered. They have decided to build it speculatively and intend to find an occupier during construction, or as soon as possible after completion.

Without a requirement to return to the Planning Committee, L&G’s agent has, under Section 73 of the 1990 Planning Act, just applied for a “non material amendment” to the existing planning permission.

Accompanying the submission and shown within this design pack, the changes sought include, reducing the size of the building, removing the basement and to reprovide outdoor parking around the more compact building. The pastiche deco style clock has been dropped because of concerns over its maintenance.

Firestone steps railing finial

Careful integration of what was left of the heritage of the site would remain. The planning agent says, “L&G remains confident that the scheme will attract a high class occupier who will make a real contribution to the Great West Road … and jobs that will be created.”

Responding, I emphasised that the site should be developed rather than left part demolished. Equally, when raised, the developer confirmed that all Grade II Listed Firestone heritage (remaining after Thatcher’s Fan Club vandalised it beyond recovery in 1980) would be protected, maintained and enhanced. L&G reiterated that their current Design and Access Statement regarding the Great West Road frontage will be secure, planted with sufficiently mature evergreens and access to power for lighting at Christmas ensured.

It has been said that speculative developments should be built to consider the broadest interest of the market, ensuring that a suitable occupier can be found and this is what led to some amendments to the permitted scheme, “to make it as market facing as possible”.

Regretably, by Autumn 2023, Tesla changed its strategy which, in turn, led Legal & General to revise that 2022 approved scheme to something smaller; less costly to build and then rent. Perhaps it may still happen. Mr Musk, by then, may later want something more economical and could end up in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward after all.

TL. 8.4.2024

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Filed under Brentford, Great West Road, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Planning

Tagged as Great West Road, Hounslow Council, Osterley & Spring Grove, Planning, Tony Louki

by loukit | April 11, 2023 · 08:54

Syon Lane: Seccombes, Scaffolding and Signals

Since the incident of 6 February 2023, enquiries have been made on behalf of residents and updates received from the company, Hounslow Highways and the Police as to when repairs will start on the damaged building and consequential traffic delays between Great West Road and Tentelow Lane ended.

Seccombes: Intensive and robust scaffolding

Last week, the company’s Managing Director, Mr John Seccombe, advised,

“Despite repeated pleas to them [the insurers] to move as quickly as possible, the insurance process has been painfully slow and methodical, frustrating a quick resolution. Our contractor has finally been given go ahead to start peeling back the damage on Tuesday 11 April in order to access hidden parts of our 200+ years old building. This will ensure the structural engineers have a full understanding of the task ahead.

Seccombes: Up close building damage

“These ‘enabling works’ are critical but will lead to ultimately having the scaffolding removed. It is still unclear as to how long this stage will take but we are sure we will finally be seeing some visible progress. We will update you all again when the Engineers have completed these final tests and we have a working timescale.