Confusion Over Turnham Green Access Restriction Delay

Council silent on progress of plan to block traffic from road

Roadworks by junction of Turnham Green Terrace and Chiswick High Road

Hounslow Council has been unable to confirm when their controversial plan to close a road in the centre of Chiswick to through traffic will be implemented.

At the time of writing, no restricted access signs have been placed on Turnham Green Terrace (TGT) unlike on Devonshire Road.

It is believed that the scheme to ban through traffic on the road is being delayed possibly because of the ongoing gasworks nearby on Chiswick High Road or because it has been decided a closure of Fishers Lane is necessary before TGT can be closed as well. We asked Hounslow Council about this but they did not respond.

Temporary traffic lights are currently in operation at the junction of Chiswick High Road and TGT. They are required due to a major project to replace the gas pipeline that runs along Chiswick High Road which will last until September. Cadent say they expect the temporary lights to be in place until 13 July but significant disruption and delays are likely on the rest of Chiswick High Road until the project is finished. Hounslow Council said in a letter that was sent to a number of residents in the area that they expected the access restrictions to be in place on both Devonshire Road and TGT by early July.

Another reason being suggested for the delay is the realisation that a closure of TGT would lead to unsustainable pressure on Fishers Lane and therefore both would need to be closed at the same time. The underpass on Fishers Lane marks the boundary of Ealing and Hounslow boroughs and new signage at Fishers Lane was on a shopping list of new projects for which Ealing said they were considering applying for funding from TfL. However, local ward councillor Andrew Steed says he has not been shown any plans for the closure of the underpass.

New signs at the entrance to Devonshire Road

It has also been suggested that implementation may be delayed by a temporary shortage of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras which would be needed to enforce the access restrictions. Across London boroughs are applying for funding for Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes which has meant there has been a rush of orders for these cameras. Hounslow has confirmed that, when in place, they will be operated by SERCO who will also be responsible for the administration of any Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued. TGT already has one of the largest amounts of PCNs issued in the borough from a fixed camera with over 1,400 fines handed out for people stopping at the bus stop in FY 2018/9 according to Hounslow’s annual parking report. Concerns have been raised that there will be confusion about how the access restrictions will apply and that drivers will inadvertently breach the rules and then face a protracted process of trying to appeal against the PCN. Some opponents of the scheme claim that the planned access restrictions are largely motivated by the revenue that the cameras will bring in from fines.

One local source with knowledge of the council said, “You can discount the idea that this is a plot by the council to install revenue raising cameras across Chiswick. It might seem suspicious that most of them seemed to be being installed in W4 but the council has to show they are responding to local need when they implement these measures. Not many people responded to the previous consultation but a small but vocal group from Chiswick put forward a number of ideas that were potentially workable and have since become more practical because of the nature of the funding that has become available.

“The control of access on Turnham Green Terrace is going to be fiendishly difficult. If the existing loading bays are going to be available to the public in a version of stop-and-shop then you may be able to pick up a coffee at Starbucks or a bag of chips at Chris’s should it ever return. The only way to distinguish shoppers from vehicles going straight through would be a ANPR camera at each end of the road with tickets issued if you were seen on both cameras within certain time span – say for example three minutes. However, what happens if someone finds no loading bays are available – do they get a fine if they carry straight on?

“However it is ultimately going to be managed they can’t restrict access while the temporary lights are in and Chiswick High Road is down to one lane eastbound at the junction. Drivers aborting a left turn at this point when they belatedly realise there is a camera would consistently block the High Road.”

The government has given Transport for London £45 million to distribute to London boroughs for schemes of this nature and has so far allocated £22.26m to 24 London boroughs including just over £1 million to Hounslow.

This is to fund a variety of projects including footway widening, town centre space, a strategic cycle route, three low traffic neighbourhoods and three school streets. Hounslow Council would not confirm which grants related to which specific projects but it is assumed that two grants of £90,000 and £160,000 relate to Devonshire Road and Turnham Green Terrace. These are for parking suspension and footway widening. Hounslow Council has said they intend to widen the pavement by the bus stop between the former Charlotte’s Bistro restaurant and Foubert’s to allow for social distancing. Another grant of £210,000 was given for road closures and implementing restricted access in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods but it is not clear whether this relates to the plans for the South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood scheme or if it includes those in the town centre.

The closure of TGT to through motor traffic except buses is to be done on a trial basis. There will still be access to Turnham Green Mews for businesses and their visitors. Some loading bays and blue badge parking places will be retained. All vehicles, not just commercial vehicles will be allowed to use the loading bays with a maximum stay of 20 minutes. Most of the parking bays on Turnham Green Terrace will be suspended to create a wider footpath to allow for social distancing.

The planned changes have been welcomed by many local residents and the Hounslow Cycling campaign but local councillor Jo Biddolph says, “ I have never known any proposal from Hounslow Council to arouse more opposition from traders and residents. Nor have I ever seen traders more worried about their futures”.

The changes are being made through Experimental Traffic Orders which reduces the legal requirement to consult with residents and businesses and means the plans don’t have to be published in the local press. They will be then reviewed after six months.

June 28, 2020