Tag Archives: Syon Lane

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

Greenwood Osterley Archers: staying put and supported

Under varied names but in the borough since the 1950s, Greenwood Osterley Archers have been in Isleworth since 1973. First at the Conquest Club and since 2002 subletting space from Grasshoppers RFC at Macfarlane Lane, the former United Biscuits sports ground owned by Hounslow Council since 1992.

Proposal for the new £9.7m Grasshoppers RFC facility at the Conquest Club to be funded by Hounslow Council

Proposal for the new £9.7m Grasshoppers RFC facility at the Conquest Club to be funded by Hounslow Council

There was a council cabinet decision in March 2016 to sell the UB sports ground, part to the Education Funding Agency for another free school and the rest to BSkyB raising £3.7m. In addition to that amount, cabinet also agreed to borrow a further £6m to build and relocate Grasshoppers RFC to a brand new facility on the northern part of the Conquest Club, next to the proposed Nishkam Free School.

Greenwood Osterley Archers on a Sturday morning shoot at Macfarlane Lane

Greenwood Osterley Archers on a Sturday morning shoot at Macfarlane Lane

Concerned that these changes would render it homeless, I accepted an invitation to the archery club at one of its Saturday morning shoots to discuss securing is medium and long term future and later arranged a meeting with the leader of the council, Councillor Steve Curran.

Greenwood Osterley Archers Mia, Marie, Sailesh Alan and Lynette with Councillor Steve Curran and Suzie Munnery of the LBH Sports and Public Health Team at the Indian Gymkhana

Greenwood Osterley Archers Mia, Marie, Sailesh, Alan and Lynette with Councillor Steve Curran and Suzie Munnery of the LBH Sports and Public Health Team at the Indian Gymkhana

We met at the Indian Gymkhana last night to discuss a way forward and Steve Curran confirmed that Grasshoppers RFC should allow the GOA should stay at Macfarlane Lane until their move. It was also agreed that the council would work to find an alternative permanent site for the archers within the borough and this would include examining how GOA could be incorporated within the proposed new free school and BSkyB development.

Further information about Greenwood Osterley Archers may be found here and about Grasshoppers RFC here.

TL  3.6.2016

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Filed under Events, Health, Leisure, Osterley, Schools, Sky

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

One done. Nine to decide. CPZs in Osterley & Spring Grove Ward updates

These past two years, there has been a fair demand in a number of neighbourhoods of Osterley & Spring Grove Ward for residents only parking.

In response, Hounslow Council’s Traffic Team has undertaken a number of consultations which have been reported at meetings of the Isleworth & Brentford Area Forum. This piece provides a situation report.

160430 NG CPZ

Northumberland Gardens – This came in to operation early April 2016 arising from discussion at the 12 March 2015 IBAF when proposals for the improvement of the pedestrian crossing outside Syon Lane Station were agreed.

The scheme was designed as an extension to the existing Syon Lane Station controlled parking zone and provides an additional 14 spaces to that scheme operating from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday. A map of the extension can be found here.

Thornbury Road South – Development of this arose from an online petition started on the Hounslow Council website in the autumn of 2014 by a local resident. It began as a response to impacts from parking by college, mosque and new developments parking.

Following a first stage informal consultation during April 2015 and for a detailed scheme in November 2015, IBAF agreed to add proceed to statutory formal consultation at its meeting on 21 January 2016.

Formal traffic orders are being compiled for the statutory consultation expected to run for 21 days from late June 2016. It will propose the addition of Thornbury Road (between Spring Grove Road and Eversley Crescent), Stanleycroft Close and Weston Gardens to the existing Spring Grove CPZ which operates from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday.

A copy of the January IBAF report can be found here and map of the proposed extension here. Should June’s statutory consultation not yield unresolvable objections, it is expected that the scheme will be installed late October 2016.

160430 Church Road

Thornbury Road North – Work on this scheme also arose from a petition started on the Hounslow Council website by a resident concerned with commuter and holiday maker parking due to the proximity of Osterley Station.

Following a first stage informal consultation during April 2015 and for a detailed scheme in November 2015, IBAF agreed to add proceed to statutory formal consultation at its meeting on 21 January 2016.

Formal traffic orders are also being compiled for a statutory consultation expected to run for 21 days from mid June 2016. It will propose the creation of a completely new controlled parking zone to include Thornbury Avenue, Thornbury Road (between Great West Road and Church Road), Church Road (between Thornbury Road and Osterley Road) and Osterley Road (between Church Road and Great West Road. It would operate from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Should the statutory consultation not yield unresolvable objections, it is expected that the scheme will be installed late October 2016. A copy of the January IBAF report can be found here and map of the proposed zone here.

Permit holders only past this point sign proposed for Ravenswood Gardens and Naseby Close. These negate the need for bays marking.

Permit holders only past this point sign proposed for Ravenswood Gardens and Naseby Close. These negate the need for bays marking.

Naseby Close and Ravenswood Gardens – These two roads located off The Grove, already covered by the existing Spring Grove CPZ, were also consulted in April and November 2015 and reported to the IBAF in January 2016. Residents here also wanted in and formal traffic orders are also being compiled for a statutory consultation, mid June 2016.

Again, in the absence of unresolvable objections, the scheme is expected to be installed late October 2016 but done so with no road markings, just signs at the start of these two cul-de-sacs. A copy of the January IBAF report can be found here and map of the proposed zone here.

Spencer Road – Councillors agreed with the council’s traffic officers’ recommendation that residents of this road be included in the April 2015 consultation with neighbouring streets. The results showed that there is demand and a scheme is being progressed to address commuter parking attracted by Osterley Station and the expected impact of a zone being commissioned south of Spring Grove Road.

Statutory consultation will take place from early June 2016 for a completely new controlled parking zone and, without unresolvable objections, is likely to be installed late October 2016. A copy of the January IBAF report can be found here and map of the proposed zone here.

NewsStandIsleworthStation

Across from Isleworth Station – Work on this began following the presentation of a 100+ signature petition to the Mayor of Hounslow at a council meeting in January 2015. The petition arose from residents’ concerns over parking by commuters, crown court users and residents from nearby developments, already built and in the pipeline.

Following a first stage informal consultation during April 2015 and for a detailed scheme in November 2015, IBAF considered an officer report at its meeting on 21 January 2016 where differences of opinion on the proposals were raised, particularly over hours of operation. This gave rise to a further meeting on 9 February 2016 called by councilors and attended by 20 residents and a way forward agreed to proceed.

Formal traffic orders are now being compiled for a statutory consultation from late June 2016. It will propose the addition of Grove Road, Avenue Road, Overton Close, College Road (south of Ridgeway Road), Henley Close and Beechen Cliff Way to the existing Spring Grove CPZ which operates from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Without unresolvable objections, is likely to be installed late October 2016. A copy of the January IBAF report can be found here and map of the proposed extension to the Spring Grove zone here.

The Six Gardens – another consequence of commuter parking by Syon Lane station and close to employment sites around Great West Road. Residents appeared not only concerned by all day parking but also its effect on waste collections not taking place in this neighbourhood due to refuse lorries as well as pedestrians not being able to negotiate tight and inconsiderate parking by some on these narrow roads.

Following correspondence and meetings with residents, I raised this issue at the July 2015 IBAF and a detailed design consultation took place in January 2016 which saw serious support for parking controls here. At the 3 March 2016 IBAF, councillors agreed that the scheme should progress to statutory consultation.

This consultation will take place mid June 2016 with a proposal to include Warkworth Gardens, Otterburn Gardens, Redesdale Gardens and Northumberland Avenue (from Roxborough Avenue to Syon Lane) to the existing Syon Lane Station CPZ which operates from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Without unresolvable objections, is likely to be installed late October 2016. A copy of the January IBAF report can be found here and map of the proposed extension here.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

North of Gillette Corner – Another request arising from commuter parking impacts and a petition from residents on the Wyke Gardens Estate off Syon Lane I presented to the Mayor of Hounslow.

Informal consultation on a scheme to include Syon Park Gardens, Syon Lane, Stags Way, Crowntree Close, Wyke Close and Oaklands Avenue took place in September 2015 and reported to IBAF at its meeting on 12 November 2015. A copy of the report considered then can be found here and a map here.

Consultation on a detailed design has just ended and is expected to be reported with next steps, if any, to the next Isleworth & Brentford Area Forum scheduled for 26 May 2016.

Burlington Road – Concerned with the implications of a controlled parking scheme due for neighbouring Spencer Road, a petition was presented by residents of Burlington Road requesting that the Council consider the introduction of a CPZ in their road (operational 10.00 am – 12.00 pm, Monday to Friday. This was considered at the 3 March 2016 IBAF.

An informal consultation in Burlington Road and neighbouring streets, Vincent Road, Spring Grove Road, Witham Road and Eversley Crescent is expected to commence in June 2016 and reported to IBAF in September 2016.

Phew!

I shall make an effort to offer updates here but in the meantime happy to correspond.

 

TL 30.4.2016

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Filed under College Road, CPZ, Great West Road, London Road, Neighbourhoods, Northumberland Estate, Osterley, Parking, Roads, Sky, Spring Grove, Thornbury Road, Wyke Green

H28 bus to the West Mid – safe for now

Transport for London says it has “deferred making a decision on the proposed changes to route H28” and “will have further discussions with the London Borough of Hounslow about these proposed changes.”

H28s on Wood Lane Isleworth

H28s on Wood Lane Isleworth

TfL reports the outcome of last year’s consultation here:  https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/e8-110-h28 .

The consultation was meant to be about improving routes to West Middlesex University Hospital following the government’s NHS cuts at Ealing Hospital last year. However, a number of folk suspect that it may have also been another austerity cuts exercise, this time with local public transport as the victim.

160406 WMUH sign

One of the TfL proposals was to reroute the E8 towards the hospital and to take the H28 out of Wood Lane, Amhurst Gardens and Twickenham Road. This would mean removing bus access to the West Mid from Spring Grove, Osterley and North Isleworth as well as other neighbourhoods in the borough .

Results of the consultation showed a very good response on the H28 from local folk and can be found on pages 5, 31-38 and 81-82 (notes from the meeting I arranged) here. They included,

  • The route needs to go to WMUH – 82 responses
  • Wood Lane needs to be served by a bus route – 68 responses
  • Generally opposed – 58 responses
  • This route is used by a number of elderly/vulnerable people who rely on it to do their weekly shop/get out and about – 56 responses
  • Will lose direct, cheap link to Tesco – 43 responses
  • H91 is not an alternative route for Wood Lane/Northumberland Estate – 29 responses
  • Northumberland Estate is not served by any other bus route and will result in a long uphill walk/walk to get other buses – 18 responses
  • Proposal will adversely affect Wood Lane residents taking children to local schools – 13 responses
  • Will increase the cost and time of my journey – 13 responses

The current route of H28 is safe, for now but this is probably because there is an election for a new Mayor for London next month and the current do nothing Mayor Johnson would not have wanted this cut in the spotlight.

H28 at Wood Lane level crossing

H28 at Wood Lane level crossing

I have spoken to Hounslow Council’s head of transport and when TfL does have these “further discussions”, I shall ensure that residents are involved and continue to do my best to represent.

TL 6.4.2016

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Filed under Council Business, Great West Road, H28 bus, London Road, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Northumberland Estate, Osterley, Public transport, Spring Grove, TfL, West Middlesex Hospital, Wyke Green