CHISWICK
TO HOST CAR FREE DAY
Leader
of Hounslow Conservatives blasts plans to close
Chiswick High Road.
The
22nd of September is In Town, Without My Car!
(This is the new name for Car Free Day.) Every
year, town centre streets are to be closed
to cars and lorries, and to be opened up for
people to enjoy walking, cycling, street theatre,
live music, dancing, public art and children's
play areas.
![](../images/site/community/cllrthompson.jpg)
"It
strikes me as a cheek for Labour
Councillors – none of whom represent
wards anywhere near Chiswick – to
push this on us without any consultation
whatsoever." |
Last
year's event saw over 1,000 towns and cities
participating throughout Europe and beyond,
including ten major British towns and cities,
ten London boroughs, and the Greater London
Authority's flagship event at Tower Bridge.
The event now enjoys UK Government support
and you can find out all about it at http://www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/eurocar/index.htm.
One
27th June Hounslow Council’s ruling Executive
voted to support the event and close one road
in the Borough. Several possible roads were
offered that could be closed: Chiswick High
Road, Devonshire Road, Brentford High Street,
Hounslow High Street and Feltham High Street.
The report that they considered is clear that
the Chiswick High Road option was the professionals
preferred choice. Closing 180 metres of the
High Road between Townhall Avenue and Heathfield
Terrace “would gain a high level of public
exposure without unreasonably affecting traffic
flows or bus routes.” (page 34) The Executive
accordingly voted to close this section of
Chiswick High Road on 22nd of September 2002.
Further
information on Hounslow’s plans see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/itwmc-uk/files/regforms/hounslow.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/itwmc-uk/files/plans.htm#hounslow
The
cost of this event is £15,000. In my
opinion this token gesture will do absolutely
nothing to solve the transport problems that
we all face daily. It strikes me as a cheek
for Labour Councillors – none of whom represent
wards anywhere near Chiswick – to push this
on us without any consultation whatsoever.
Chiswick
High Road is congested every day of the week
– even, or should I say especially, on Sunday’s.
We suffer some of the worst air quality in
London as a result.
I
have a confession to make. I am a motorist
who sometimes has to use my car! I don't want
to walk several miles laden with a week's shopping.
I’m not out to wreck the planet. I do care
about the environment but I often have no choice.
We need real alternatives to car travel. Will
this expensive PR stunt actually achieve anything?
Cllr
Peter Thompson
Turnham Green Councillor.
Reaction
on forum to Chiswick Car Free Day
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