Tag Archives: Great West Road

by | October 16, 2016 · 23:23

Former Shell Syon Gate Garage plot: High

Back in 2008, permission was gained by the owners of this former Shell petrol station and Contitrades House site opposite Homebase on Syon Lane, Isleworth for a self storage facility but that didn’t happened.

Syon Gate Garage site early proposal

Syon Gate Garage site early proposal

A couple of different proposals had been mooted by owners Precis since, both involving a mix of self storage and mainly tall residential but did not progress.

Syon Gate Garage site, more recent proposal

Syon Gate Garage site, more recent proposal

A new scheme is about to be revealed to residents and councillors before a planning application is submitted to Hounslow Council, possibly by the end of this year.

161016-sgg-from-northumberland-031

To allow residents to comment, an exhibition is taking place at St Francis of Assisi Church Hall, 865 Great West Road, Isleworth, TW7 5PD, over two days on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 October 2016 between 4.00 pm and 8.00 pm. The developer’s architects and planning advisors will be present to explain the proposals.

A copy of the invitation sent last week can be found here.

Also, on Thursday 20 October at 8.10 pm (not 7.30 pm as billed) at Hounslow Civic Centre, members of the council’s Planning Committee will also have the opportunity to do the same during at a Planning Development Presentation. This is a monthly event where development proposals ideas are brought to councillors for comments prior to full applications being made. Members of the public are welcome to attend but do not have speaking rights.

The site owner’s planning consultants have provided this summary briefing to councillors.

A planning application by Sky, for temporary car parking on this site has been submitted to Hounslow Council and is reported elsewhere on this blog; it has no immediate bearing on this matter.

Not in Osterley & Spring Grove Ward, the Duke of Northumberland’s schemes for Park Road Allotments and replacement will also be given an outing at the 20 October Planning Development Presentation.

TL 16.10.2016

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Filed under Great West Road, Housing, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Northumberland Estate, Osterley, Planning

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by | October 8, 2016 · 17:16

Osterley Library has friends

Longer term residents will be familiar with this one.

St Mary's Crescent, Isleworth

On St Mary’s Crescent since 1966

Though, no matter how long people have had the pleasure to live in Osterley & Spring Grove Ward, Hounslow’s largest and greenest, everyone should by now be aware of the scale of unnecessary cuts in government funding in name of austerity. Just 24% of the London Borough of Hounslow’s spend is raised by Council Tax.

Locally, mooted closures of Osterley Library have been fought off three times since 1992. Its and the neighbouring Osterley Bowls Club site being mentioned as potential for development on pages 43, 44 and 48 of this council document has again raised interest.

Late last month, the Osterley & Wyke Green Residents Association circulated this flyer that encouraged some 50 residents to a meeting at Thistleworth Tennis Club to discuss the possible fates of both facilities.

Osterley Library opened by past Labour strongman Alf King 50 years ago

Osterley Library opened by past Labour strongman Alf King 50 years ago

It was explained at the meeting that whilst the site could be developed for housing, the property strategy document states Osterley Library would be relocated should this be likely to happen.

For where it is and what it offers, Osterley’s library is a valuable local resource and more people are encouraged to join and use it.  The place offers not just books but newspapers, magazines, information, computers, quiet study space, regular activities for children and adults as well as a good reason for otherwise isolated people to get out of the house and see folk.  Apart from our three parks, Osterley Library is the only council facility in the whole of Osterley & Spring Grove Ward.

Osterley Bowls Club may be another matter. Reduced and attempts to encourage new membership and other factors raised such as local parking controls within the Osterley Station CPZ give club officials cause for concern.

To assist, the possibility of revising controlled hours on St Mary’s Crescent has been discussed with the council’s traffic team. It has been agreed that residents there will be written to before the end of October asking whether they may wish the same controls as in Jersey Road (east of the Osterley Park main gate), Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm rather the current weekdays 9.30am to 5.30pm.

Osterley Bowls Club since 1936

Osterley Bowls Club since 1936

To find out more about Osterley Bowls Club please go to www.osterleybowlsclub.org

A Friends of Osterley Library group has been set up and people are asked to write to info@owgra.org.uk to join.

Useful background, legislation and current policy on libraries can be found on this HM Government site.

TL 8.10.2016

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Filed under Council Business, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Parking

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by | July 21, 2016 · 11:02

Freeloaders to be nabbed

Hounslow Council’s planners advise, “agents’ boards will be a breach of the advertisement regulations if not placed on the property to which they relate.  If they are on the highway, then the highway authority can remove them and it is normally the highway authority that would enforce in such cases.”

Offending Thorgills, Dexters, Chase Buchanan and Anderson Knight boards at Osterley

Offending Thorgills, Dexters, Chase Buchanan and Anderson Knight boards at Osterley

First raised with Hounslow Council’s busy Planning Enforcement Team early June 2016, I later found out that the common but prohibited practice of estate agents placing advertising on the Great West Road, Osterley Station subway railings was actually a matter for Transport for London.

Following correspondence, heard from TfL yesterday that estate agents Thorgills, Dexters, Chase Buchanan and Anderson Knight will be written to and given seven days notice to remove these boards. Should they fail to comply, TfL will do it and seek to recover any expenses incurred.  A copy of TfL’s communication can be found here.

Unless on the A4, A30 or A406 which are Transport for London’s (report via tfl.gov.uk/contact), our highway authority is Hounslow Highways to whom similar breaches can be reported by visiting http://www.hounslowhighways.org

It’s not just flytips that rankle.

Happy to follow up if problems not resolved.

TL 21.7.2016

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Filed under Great West Road, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Public transport, Roads, TfL

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by | July 19, 2016 · 12:00

Useful fact finding visit to Transport for London

It was a pleasure as ever to hang with Councillors Guy Lambert (Labour, Brentford) and Sam Christie (Labour, Bedfont) the one who brokered a positive meeting at Transport for London in Southwark yesterday morning. On the way I was unaware I nearly squashed a Pokemon, Pidgey, near the Young Vic on The Cut, SE1, hadn’t a clue, sorry.

Councillors Guy Lambert, Tony Louki and Sam Christie on the 10.44 Hounslow Loop from Chiswick to London Waterloo for our TfL meet

Councillors Guy Lambert, Tony Louki and Sam Christie on the 10.44 Hounslow Loop from Chiswick to London Waterloo for our TfL meet

Of mutual interest for the three of us was the continuing saga of house building conglomerate Barratt unable to facilitate uninterrupted service for the 235 at its western terminus, Great West Quarter; crowding on some routes; ability to access West Middlesex University Hospital from all parts of the borough and overall bus reliability in Hounslow.

Positive news is that brand new and latest lowest emission buses will be introduced by when the 235’s bus operations transfer from Abellio to Metroline in January 2017.

Those recalling last year’s consultations on local services may know that TfL still considers the routeing of the H28 and E8 as unfinished business. There was and remains concern that the removal of route H28 from Wood Lane, Isleworth will make access to the West Mid very difficult from as far away as Cranford and Heston. Replacing it with a double decked E8 down Amhurst Gardens would mean the removal of the last of that road’s mature trees. Expect more consultations in early 2017.

Not enough time to cover all the Transport for London issues affecting Osterley & Spring Grove Ward but a number of items were left with our host to consider and respond to, including:

A4 Great West Road junctions

  • improving phase turnings at Wood Lane
  • improving surface crossings at Gillette Corner
  • pedestrian subway safety at Gillette Corner
  • preventing eastbound driving on the southside between Jersey and Gresham Roads
  • future proposals for this TfL owned stretch.

New Ridgeway Road controlled crossing

  • reinstatement of the grass verge
  • marking the cycle lane following completion of the recent works
  • remedying the northside cycle lane pinch point by pedestrian crossing
  • reinstatement of bus stop U Great West Road/Ridgeway Road.

Great West Road at Osterley Library

  • establishing short term parking in the layby east from Thornbury Road.

Great West Road environment

  • protection and maintenance of verges, shrub beds and maximising pavement widths
  • clarifying TfL bollard policy
  • managing curtilage hedge encroachments on footways
  • cycle lane maintenance and safety
  • managing tree growth that impedes cyclists
  • TfL’s tree maintenance and planting programme
  • maintenance schedules.

Councillor Sam Christie’s notes of the meeting can be found here.

Pokemon Pidgey almost a Size 8 gonner on the way to TfL

Pokemon Pidgey almost a cropper from my size 8s on the way to TfL

Always happy to hear from residents about local public transport and the Great West Road.

TL 19.7.2016

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Filed under Brentford, Great West Road, H28 bus, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Public transport, Roads, TfL, Traffic, West Middlesex Hospital

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by | May 31, 2016 · 20:29

Wardabout on Northumberland Estate with Hounslow Highways – Tuesday 31 May 2016 at 11.00 am to 12.00 pm

The latest in our neighbourhoods mooches took place today on the Northumberland Estate in the rain and with added splash.  We were not deterred, the silver lining was the noting of quite a few pondings and blocked gulleys.

Wardabout on Quakers Lane with Satbir and Ali from Hounslow Highways, James from Hounslow Council, Northumberland Estate residents Sarah, Alan, David and Pia, Councillor O'Reilly and me (behind the lens)

Wardabout on Quakers Lane with Satbir and Ali from Hounslow Highways, James from Hounslow Council, Northumberland Estate residents Sarah, Alan, David and Pia, Councillor O’Reilly and me (behind the lens)

Residents welcomed this Hounslow Highways initiative and their local knowledge helped put issues into historic perspective.  Everyone said they loved the new trees planted in most roads on the Northumberland  over the winter and today they saw them getting a good water.

The list of issues spotted, raised and marked for resolution within 28 days can be found here.

TL 31.5.2016

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Filed under Council Business, Events, Great West Road, Hounslow Highways, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Northumberland Estate, Road works, Roads, TfL

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