TfL to consider impact of proposed road closures
Congestion on the road is particularly bad at rush hour
A decision on whether to proceed with road closures in the Wellesley Road/Stile Hall Gardens area to deter motorists using it as a short-cut to the South Circular Road is likely to be deferred for some months. This is to allow Transport for London (TfL) to carry out its own survey on the impact of a road closure.
A majority (almost 50%) of the 563 residents who responded to Hounslow Council's consultation on ways to get a better traffic flow towards the South Circular (near Kew Bridge) preferred the option which would lead to the closure of Wellesley Road and Stile Hall Gardens at the junctions with the South Circular to all traffic except cycles.
Under this option, access from the SCR would be maintained into Clarence Road and Stile Hall Gardens. Traffic monitoring would take place to consider whether left turn access to Chiswick High Road from Oxford Road North also needed to be banned, in the event of high levels of through traffic continuing.
The matter will be discussed at Tuesday's (Jan 24th) meeting of the Chiswick Area Forum (CAF) and the results of the consultation will be discussed in detail. Council officers recommend that a decision be deferred pending a report from TfL which is likely to be spring/summer 2017.
Officers say in their report that the responses show a level of concern about the potential impact of a closure, but also that a majority of those most impacted by the current issues support a closure, and that many non-residential road users are supportive of measures to create a better environment for cycling and walking in the area.
Locals had demanded that the Council take action because a commuter 'rat
run' has developed, often directed by satellite navigation devices,
During peak times it can take more than 20 minutes to get from one end of the street to the other according to residents. At present Stile Hall Gardens has a 20 mph speed limit but locals say this is ignored and they claim the average speed is above 35 mph.
Wellesley Road forms part of the proposed Cycle Superhighway route in the Borough. The problem was initially identified in 2016 during a Council survey which was originally concerned with extending the supercycle highway along this area. It was then that locals raised their concerns about non-local traffic in the area and how this would cause difficulties for cyclists.
A petition signed by 102 residents, was lodged calling for action on traffic congestion, representing 75 of the 104 households on Stile Hall Gardens. This led to pressure on the Council to take further action and theconsultation was launched before Christmas.
Locals are also worried about the problem worsening with plans for the Lionel Road stadium and other developments in the area. They are also concerned about pollution.
January 21, 2017
