Campaign Revived For Safer Crossing Near Health Centre

Councillors back up elderly residents who want zebra crossings

Local councillors have revived the campaign to have safer crossings installed at the junction of Fisher's Lane and Dolman Road, an area which is close to two doctor's surgeries and a pharmacy and school.

In March 2017 Hounslow Council refused a request for a crossing to be placed by the junction of Fisher's Lane and Dolman Road, saying that the spot did not meet the requirements for a crossing because it was not in frequent use or a point where many accidents had taken place.

In June 2016, a petition signed by 68 people was received from residents of Homecross House, Fisher’s Lane and Jessop House, Kirton Close. The petition requested zebra crossings be installed between the central island at Fisher’s Lane/Dolman Road and the footways on all three sides of the island.

The petitioners said that a crossing was needed as there are vulnerable people unable to cross the road safely at what is a busy junction, close to the Chiswick High Road.

Three local Conservative councillors, Joanna Biddolph, Ranjit Gill and Ron Mushiso have now applied for funding through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for the relevant crossings to be funded.

CIL funds are used to fund local community projects such as improvements to parks and open spaces, supporting community events or expansion of children's, youth, or senior outreach programs.

The request is for crossings where the Fisher's Lane meets Dolman Road and splits in three directions; this means three short crossings where there are now (recently installed) dropped kerbs.

Cllr Biddolph says,"If we are successful, it will help residents of Homecross House (about 200 people go in and out every day - residents, carers, doctors, nurses, dentists, chiropodists, hairdressers, residents of Jessop House (also sheltered housing) in Kirton Close, parents and children walking to/from Belmont School; residents who need to visit the Chiswick Health Centre, the Holly Road Medical Centre and the Chiswick Pharmacy as well as people using the recently opened Spaces London, Chiswick."

Hounslow Council's head of Transport, Mark Frost said in 2017 that a report had been compiled in the wake of the petition, which used Department of Transport guidelines. This technical assessment was known as an ADPV2 assessment and the Dolman Road site fell very far short of the criteria, therefore no zebra crossing was recommended.

Local councillors have supported the request for safer crossings for several years.

Map - Hounslow Council

There are many residents living close to Fisher's Lane who have mobility problems and use a stick or a walking frame - therefore they move more slowly than the average pedestrian and take longer to cross a road. The Chiswick Health Centre, which was frequently visited, involved crossing the road for them.

October 21, 2018