Fisher's Lane Closure To Be Retained at Least Until Autumn
Consultation will take place after the end of lockdown measures
Fisher's Lane underpass
Ealing Council has confirmed that the access restrictions on Fisher’s Lane are to remain in place until the Autumn when a consultation will be held with local residents.
The authority is due to announce shortly a timetable for consultations on the remaining Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) schemes in the borough. It is understood that these will start almost immediately with a final decision being made in September based on a ‘Controlled Parking Zone’ style survey which will be restricted to residents in the affected areas.
However, the Fisher’s Lane restriction which allows only buses and pedal cycles to use the underpass without risk of a fine, is not regarded as an LTN and therefore will not be part of this process. Opponents of the closure had hoped it would be reviewed at the same time as LTNs. Assuming a similar timetable to the LTN consultations, no decision on the Fisher’s Lane restriction is likely to be made until the end of the year.
A spokesperson for the council said, "Fisher’s Lane is a cycle scheme, not an LTN. This scheme continues to be monitored to assess the effects on all forms of transport, including pedestrians. A decision on whether to make the cycle scheme permanent will be made once lockdown restrictions are removed and schools return with a consultation taking place in the Autumn."
On becoming leader of the council Peter Mason pledged to hold ‘Controlled Parking Zone style’ consultations on individual LTNs in the borough 'keeping schemes that work and are supported, and removing those that do not'.
At the same time he announced the immediate scrapping of LTN21 in West Ealing and Hanwell due to major roadworks taking place nearby in the borough of Hounslow.
He said that people living in LTNs should be the ones that determine whether the trial schemes are made permanent and it is understood that the consultations will be open just to residents within the scheme and those on bordering roads.
Councillor Gary Malcolm, the Leader of Ealing Liberal Democrat Group said, “The Liberal Democrats have successfully pressed the Council to consult ASAP so that people’s views can be known sooner. It is good that the Council will consult people including those residents who also border the LTNs. The vast majority of people giving their views on LTNs on the Council’s Commonplace website show that Ealing residents are strongly against LTNs. Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign against LTNs and for as many people as possible to have their say.”
When asked at a recent council meeting about the consultation exercise Cllr Deirdre Costigan, the cabinet member responsible for LTNs said, “We (the Council) need to work with people”.
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June 25, 2021
