Business at Usual in Chiswick Despite National Dramas
Chiswick Gunnersbury councillor Ranjit Gill reports back on his week
Cllr Ranjit Gill
After another tumultuous week in national politics, it has been very useful being a councillor and remaining with feet firmly on local ground. So much of our work has nothing to do with party politics. Taking up residents’ concerns about street lighting, pavements, autumn leaf fall, litter, recycling and waste (for example) is about practical implementation of local policy. Councillors everywhere are focused dedicatedly on local issues. Though, in passing and because it seems to be less well known, when the national becomes the local, Conservative councillors are expected to report openly and honestly on what their residents and business ratepayers think of national policy. We aren’t silenced by loyalty to party. So, while big dramas are playing out in Westminster, we pass on general views but carry on working on big dramas in Chiswick.
Roads, roads and roads
It seems that no days go by without us being reminded that our current biggest local drama is the state of our roads.
The A4
The A4 affects all three Hounslow Chiswick wards, running through Chiswick Homefields ward and marking the boundary between Chiswick Gunnersbury and Chiswick Riverside wards, so we all have residents who live on it or close to it and, of course, who need to get to, from it and along it. Its closure has infuriated many – with invisible workers reminding people who are roughly my age of John Major’s cones hotline and residents remaining perplexed about why the Hartington Road and Staveley Road restrictions can’t be suspended till the A4 has re-opened fully. It is, as has been often stated, because the aim (apart from income from fines) of all these restrictions is to make driving so horrible that everyone abandons their cars and gets on their bikes. No pain no gain; it’s for the greater good; this is not a referendum … we have heard all the platitudes. As a car driver myself, and as a big walker (with Lulu, my half Yorkshire and Lhasa Apso breed), and as an accountant watching the pennies and the pounds, I know I drive only when I need to. I have yet to meet a resident or business owner who makes frivolous or irresponsible car journeys. And, as we know, Chiswick has the highest car-free existence in the borough, and the highest environmental awareness, but still Chiswick’s responsible drivers are being punished.
Traffic queueing on the approach to Hogarth Roundabout
Devonshire Road
Cycle Lane changes continue with the latest information to councillors being that the top of Devonshire Road at Chiswick High Road will be closed completely from 9th November, with a circuitous route for traders’ lorries and vans, as well as residents, via Brackley Road and Swanscombe Road. The top of Devonshire Road will be two-way during this interruption and some parking will be lost. On hearing this, my councillor colleague Joanna Biddolph, who runs the Chiswick Shops Task Force, went immediately into campaign mode. Her concern is that shops on Devonshire Road – as is true all over Chiswick – need early Christmas trade this year more than any other. These works are scheduled to be completed on Friday, 2nd December (which is when all roadworks will be suspended for Christmas) but, as the cost-of-living bites, early Christmas spending might be the only Christmas spending. She has asked the transport team to switch the works round, doing junctions at Duke Road and Dukes Avenue first and tackling the more complex junction of Devonshire Road in the new year. Perhaps the team will listen.
C9 the cycle lane
Changes are being made along the route to improve cyclists’ safety. Residents near the route should have had a letter about the works though comments made to us include criticisms of the minuscule size of the map and the unhelpful use of transport jargon (raised tables, anyone?).
We are all concerned about safety of people who cycle and the recent closure of the cycle lane has left us anxious for them – and for walkers. We’ve seen, or been sent photos of, cyclists ignoring the “Cycle Lane Closed” signs and carrying on regardless. Meanwhile, people wanting to cross the road might assume that closed means closed and that no-one will be cycling along the closed cycle lane. Cllr Joanna Biddolph picked up on this, asking for the cycle lane to be closed in small sections, around work taking place, and with hard barriers not movable signs, for cycling and pedestrian safety. LBH has recommended the phased closure to TfL, so we are waiting for an answer. Hard barriers were being installed as these words were being written.
Many other roads …
The impact of road works, existing road restrictions, and from Monday 24th the two-day closure of South Parade (meaning that all three east-west routes in Chiswick will be compromised at the same time) is felt all over our ward. Acton Lane, Barrowgate Road, Duke Road, Dukes Avenue, Sutton Court Road, Sutton Lane North, Wavendon Avenue – all have been affected by displaced traffic. Cllr Joanna Biddolph raised these points with the traffic team and the response is of course inevitable: short of closing all roads off or leading to the A4, nothing can be done to deter A4 traffic from using other routes. And, yes, she asked if Fishers Lane could be re-opened and, yes, the answer was no.
Wavendon Avenue traffic
More change is coming - Hounslow council’s vision for Chiswick town centre
As if residents and business ratepayers haven’t had enough of revolution in their hometown, more change is coming. All Chiswick councillors were given a briefing on the council’s vision for Chiswick town centre. This is still the plan that was presented for consultation earlier this year, and we were given some feedback on the outcome of the consultation. It isn’t clear what aspects of the vision the council plans to promote though we know there are 26 potential projects, not all of them funded yet. There are signs that some listening has taken place – one comment was that the regeneration and economic recovery team, led by Labour cabinet member Cllr Tom Bruce, wants to work with residents and the business community but it’s hard not to be sceptical given that imposition regardless of overwhelming public opinion has so far been the council’s natural starting point.
There were 1,600 responses to the consultation earlier this year which the council considers to be a fantastic response. It seems to us to be rather low knowing that there are 36,000 or so residents in the three Hounslow wards (Chiswick Gunnersbury, Chiswick Homefields, Chiswick Riverside) and a further 12,000 or so in the Ealing part of Chiswick (Southfield ward).
Do come to the event about the proposals and have your say direct with officers. It’s a drop-in event from 1.30pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday, 1st November at Chiswick Town Hall with stalls highlighting specific aspects of the proposals. Hounslow council has put the event on Eventbrite but only to have an idea of numbers; you don’t have to book but if you would like to here’s the link.
Gunnersbury dominated by planning and … traffic
Residents in the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate conservation area are currently concerned about planning applications that have either been refused for hard-to-justify reasons or works that are taking place breaking planning permission and that will, disappointingly, not be enforced. This lovely peaceful spot, of black and white mock-Tudor houses laid out in the 1927 way (each house looking out over its garden then a garage with access roads in between), has an atmosphere all its own that is gradually being eroded. We do what we can, but we need residents to act fast if building work appears to be taking place, checking planning applications or referring to us at the first sign of dodgy change.
We try to be swift to take up issues. Follow up doesn’t necessarily follow speedily. We are still waiting for outcomes after the meeting we held in August with residents annoyed about gridlock caused by additional parking along Popes Lane when Gunnersbury Park events take place. Most concern is about blocking the E3, on which so many residents depend somewhere along its route, and sight lines as people drive out of Gunnersbury Park. The short parade of shops at the top of Lionel Road North needs stop-and-shop parking. Our lobbying is complicated by the fact that Ealing council is responsible for the road and, in some parts, the pavement, and TfL is responsible for bus routes which adds complication to changing the road (Ealing wants TfL to fund changes). You can imagine what I thought when we were told by an Ealing officer that “ it is a bus route and TfL have a vested interest in maintain [sic] free flowing traffic” and I expect many of you are smiling wryly about that in relation to Chiswick High Road. And the A4.
Black history month
I joined councillor colleagues for the council’s Black History month celebration – an evening of inspiring presentations from people campaigning for greater recognition of their part in our history, making the UK what it is today, and now. As a celebration of black culture, I found it odd that the refreshments afterwards were the council’s usual array of sandwiches rather than Caribbean or west African food and I sensed from others they thought it odd, too.
Life beyond the council
My partner, Peter, unfortunately has been in hospital since Thursday last week due to breathing problems. As his dementia is fast progressing, he is unable to recognise me or communicate and hence there was difficulty knowing what was wrong with him. The medical team (doctors, nurses and the health care assistants) in the acute medical unit (AMU) at West Middlesex Hospital have been great. I would like to thank them for the care they are providing him. Although I can continue as usual responding to residents and attending council meetings, it was difficult to find time for writing this blog so I’m grateful to Jo for putting my week into words on the page.
Wishing everyone a Happy Diwali which falls on Monday, 24th October.
Councillor Ranjit Gill
Chiswick Gunnersbury ward
ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 702956
SURGERIES IN CHISWICK AND GUNNERSBURY
We are back to our usual routine of holding face-to-face surgeries in Chiswick and in Gunnersbury.
Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the eight Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn).
Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors takes this surgery).
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Monday, 24 October at 7.00pm: Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel
Tuesday, 1 November from 1.30pm to 7.30pm: Chiswick Town Centre Vision drop-in at Chiswick Town Hall
Thursday 3 November 7:00 pm Planning Committee
Tuesday 8 November 7:00 pm Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 14 November at 7.00pm: Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel
Tuesday 15 November 7:00 pm Cabinet
Wednesday, 16 November at 7.00pm: Health and Adults Care Scrutiny Panel
Tuesday 22 November 7:00 pm Chiswick Area Forum
Tuesday 29 November 7:30 pm Borough Council
CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS and CONTACTS
Chiswick Gunnersbury (was Turnham Green) ward
Cllr Joanna Biddolph joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 703446
Cllr Ranjit Gill ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702956
Cllr Ron Mushiso ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702887
Chiswick Homefields ward
Cllr Jack Emsley jack.emsley@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 396017
Cllr Gerald McGregor gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784821
Cllr John Todd john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784651
Chiswick Riverside ward
Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 395810
Cllr Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823
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October 22, 2022