New Consultation Being Held on Grove Park Piazza
Series of improvements planned to area in front of shops
A visualisation of Grove Park Road after the proposed changes. Picture: Hounslow Council
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March 2, 2023
Another consultation is being held on a series of proposals to improve the public realm on Grove Park Road between the shops and the Old Station House pub.
The broad idea is to shift the balance of the area away from motor traffic and boost pedestrian priority with the aim of supporting commercial activity in the area.
The council has worked with the Grove Park Group Residents’ Association (GPG) in developing the proposals over the last few years. There was an earlier consultation about the Piazza in 2020 but implementation was put back because of the pandemic. The latest consultation is on plans which are substantially the same but for which more detailed designs have been drawn up in the meantime.
Grove Park Road as it is currently. Picture: Google Streetview
The new designs would see wider pavements in front of the shops on the north side of the road with the central area and the surrounding pedestrian crossings raised, slowing traffic, and improving pedestrian facilities.
There would be tactile paving provisions at all crossing points to assist the visually impaired pedestrians and provide clear pedestrian routes.
The proposals also envisage more tree-planting and the extension of grass verges with the potential inclusion of rain gardens for sustainable drainage. Additional fixed seating and space for tables & chairs or street trading would be provided.
A visualisation of the extended pavements proposed in front of the shops. Picture: Google Streetview
Amendments to parking restrictions are proposed. The first 30 minutes of parking will still be free, but the hours of operation for the ‘pay-by-phone’ spaces would be extended to 9am to 5pm from the current 10am to noon to encourage greater turn-over of spaces during trading hours.
The number of ‘pay-by-phone’ parking bays within Grove Park Road would be reduced by two spaces with three shared-use bays within Spencer Road converted to ‘pay-by-phone’ only to make-up for the shortfall in short-term parking.
There would also be provision for a kiosk and utilities for a potential future ‘pop up’ stall.
One possible fly-in-the-ointment for the plan is the uncertainty over the future of the Old Station House pub. Staff have recently been telling customers that the pub is set to stop serving from 17 March but it is not clear if it will reopen once building work has competed at the site.
Proposals for the redesign of the problematic Grove Park Bridge junction have not been included in the consultation as the council says that including this issue would significantly increase the scope and affect the affordability and deliverability of the current project.
A number of drop-in sessions are being held in Grove Park for people to ask questions about the proposals. These take place at St Paul’s Church 56-62 Grove Park Rd at 4pm and 7pm on Monday 6 March and 11am and 2pm on Saturday 11 March.
Residents are being asked to complete a survey giving their views before Sunday 26 March.
Anyone unable to complete the survey online can obtain it in an alternative format by emailing traffic@hounslow.gov.uk or calling 020 8583 3322.
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