South Chiswick Traffic Restrictions Set To Begin
Controversial measures on Hartington Road and Thames Road to be enforced
Western end of Strand on the Green. Picture: Google Streetview
Hounslow Council has issued an official notice of their intent to start the enforcement of two new traffic measuress in the south of Chiswick.
New access restrictions will apply on Hartington Road and along Thames Road from 7 December.
Under traffic order TMO/E038/20 from this date motor vehicles ‘except those requiring access’ will be unable to proceed in either direction from Grove Park Road (between its junctions with Grove Park Terrace and Thames Road), Strand-on-the-Green and Thames Road.
This will not prevent deliveries or visitors to residents in these roads but it is designed to prevent drivers using the roads as a cut through between Kew Bridge and Chiswick.
The precise way in which it will be determined how a vehicle has legitimate access has not been revealed by the council but it is believed that ANPR cameras at each entry point will record a vehicle’s registration and, if the same vehicle is seen leaving the opposite end of the zone within a set time limit, then it will be subject to a fine. Vehicles entering and leaving the zone at the same point will not be fined.
Buses and taxis are exempt from the restriction and access to premises, both residential and commercial, that are only accessible from the restricted roads remains permitted.
The council has produced a video explaining how the restrictions will work.
The council says that there are over 4,000 vehicles using Thames Road on an average weekday a high proportion of which is through traffic, with drivers passing through the area from one end to the other. Its analysis suggests that in both directions approximately 60% of the traffic between the western end of Strand on the Green, and the eastern end of Thames Road, passes through the area in less than 4 minutes.
The camera technology to be used is already operating on Green Dragon Lane in Brentford. It does not require residents or businesses to pre-register licence plates.
The restriction on northbound traffic on Hartington Road is also set to being on 7 December. This means that only residents of a restricted number of CPZs in the vicinity will be able to turn into to the road from the Great Chertesy Road (A316). Other traffic seeking access to the area will need to turn into Staveley Road or Burlington Lane. The restriction begins at Chiswick Quay so access to premises between the A316 and Chiswick Quay is not affected. The University of Westminster sports ground access is on the A316 side of the restriction and therefore can be accessed from either direction, but on exiting the sports ground drivers would need to turn towards the A316 in order to leave the area.
Entrance to Hartington Road from A316. Picture: Google Streetview
Southbound travel along Hartington Road (i.e. towards the A316 and Chiswick Bridge) will remain unchanged for all vehicles.
Vehicles permitted to travel northbound through the restriction are those registered at residential properties that sit within the geographical area covered by the ‘CS’ and ‘RV’ controlled parking zones. This is the area between the river, the London Overground railway line and national rail line Information relating to permit holder eligibility can be found on this link.
You can register your vehicle for exemption here.
Some residents of the Grove Park area outside the qualifying zone are unhappy about the restrictions saying that their wish to gain access to their homes should not be considered rate running. The council has been accused of wishing to maximise the revenue potential of the scheme by limiting the number of households that are exempt.
The council says that nearly 8,000 vehicles use Hartington Road on the average weekday at its busiest point with two thirds of all traffic is heading in a northbound direction. This northbound dominance of traffic continues on Bolton Road, Grove Park Road and Sutton Court Road, which the council believes shows the degree to which traffic uses this route as a cut through between the A316 and A4, in order to avoid Hogarth Roundabout.
The trials of both schemes are planned to last for a minimum of 6 months with an interim review taking place in March 2021 and the first formal review in June 2021 which will determine whether or not they will be made permanent.
To have your say on any of Hounslow’s trial Streetspace schemes click on this link or email the transport team on traffic@hounslow.gov.uk.
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December 6, 2020
