Devonshire Road To Be Reopened To Traffic During the Daytime

Extra provision being made for outdoor dining in parking bays

Devonshire Road had been busy during recent Sunday markets. Picture: Guy Lambert

Hounslow Council has announced that it are to reopen Devonshire Road to through traffic during the day by the end of next month.

Provision will be made for restaurants and cafes on Devonshire Road to retain the use of a limited number of parking spaces for outdoor dining, but general traffic access will be reintroduced between 8am and 5pm.

The council says the changes have been made to the Streetspace trial following further engagement by independent consultants with residents and local businesses.

Some 10,000 individuals took part in the consultation, both in writing and in a series of online engagement events, including events aimed specifically at businesses.

A report by the Chiswick Shops Task Force showed that there was a consensus among businesses on the road that a partial restriction rather than a 24/7 closure to traffic was the favoured option.

A scheme to widen the pavement to enable social distancing on Bath Road in the centre of Hounslow is being scrapped at the same time.

Councillor Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport and One Hounslow, said, “I want to thank the thousands of people who took part in the consultation, as well as those who spoke to us when we were knocking on doors in and around Bath Road and Devonshire Road as part of a further engagement activity in the last few weeks.

“I hope today’s decisions show that we are continuing to listen to what residents and our local business community are telling us about the Streetspace trials, with the aim of retaining the best of the schemes, but also being prepared to amend or remove trials where they are not working.

“In July we will conduct our final review of the other Streetspace trials and we will subsequently announce which will be made permanent or whether any further changes need to be made.”

A spokesperson for the Chiswick Shops Task Force welcomed the announcement but added, " Our survey of Devonshire Road shop owners - the first survey to follow Market Research Society guidelines and which received responses from 37 out of 39 shop owners - showed that there was a spirit of compromise along the road, balancing the needs of shops and service businesses with those of cafes and restaurants. We are glad that Hounslow council listened to its findings.

“However, the devil is in the detail and, as is so often the case with Hounslow Council, the detail is missing. Traders and residents responded immediately with questions and we have asked Hounslow council for clarity."

A number of potential issues have already been raised including whether or not stop-and-shop parking will be retained and how Devonshire Road residents will be protected from noise from late night drinking and eating and whether the restrictions could be made seasonal.

A spokesperson for local campaign group OneChiswick said, "Hounslow Council has imposed its 'solution' without consulting or informing the local Councillors in advance who have worked so hard to listen to all sides.  It is not in line with any of the more carefully thought through compromise proposals put forward by the Chiswick Task Force.  Decisions seem to have been imposed by consultants and officers – and Hounslow councillors – who don’t live in Chiswick.  But it is still better than the current situation.  

"Local residents of Devonshire Road and the Glebe Estate are still very confused about when and how they and their visitors can access their own homes. Nobody understands why the road will close at 5pm (before many shops close, mostly at 6pm) and only reopen at 8am. The Council has not explained its decisions at all, it needs to explain  its reasoning and listen to feedback. 

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June 27, 2021