Turnham Green Terrace Access Restrictions Suspended |
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Move made due to extension of Acton Lane closure to late November
The controversial access restrictions on Turnham Green Terrace have been suspended by Hounslow Council until further notice. The move was made this Thursday evening (29 October) after Thames Water confirmed that the closure of Acton Lane northbound would need to continue to late November. They have been required to dig up the road due to problems with a water main at the site. Councillor Hanif Khan, the Cabinet Member for Transport said, “It is only too clear that the combination of Turnham Green Terrace’s experimental traffic order, and the emergency work being done by Thames Water is having a serious and detrimental impact on traffic across the area, affecting residents and businesses. As a result we will suspend the experimental access restrictions with immediate effect. “We have been clear throughout that we are listening, and this is further evidence that we mean precisely that. The immediate suspension of these access restrictions is the necessary and right thing to do. “The independent review process will continue as planned during the suspension. I would urge people to keep sending their views to inform the independent review process” The suspension of restrictions means that enforcement of the access restrictions and issuing of PCNs related to Turnham Green Terrace will cease immediately. The council’s parking Infrastructure team have removedany access restriction signage as part of this temporary suspension. Experimental parking restrictions remain in place and will continue to be enforced. Cllr Gerald McGregor, who represents Chiswick Homefields ward for the Conservatives, had visited the road closure on Acton Lane the day after they were put in place and been told by the site manager that they would be completed in a few days. However, when he returned to the site later in the week there had been a significant change in the situation. Thames Water engineers had located the leaking main but discovered a sewer pipe laid by the Victorians which prevented a quick repair. The opinion of the engineers on the site was that the work would be extended by a month at a minimum. On Wednesday 28 October, Cllr McGregor again had high level discussions with senior officers at Hounslow Council and Cabinet members. However, they refused to consider any alterations of the experimental traffic schemes currently underway in Chiswick. On Thursday 29 October Cllr McGregor had further discussions at Hounslow suggesting the re-opening of Turnham Green Terrace as a minimum plus no PCN enforcement. At this point there was a u-turn by Hounslow Council with Cllr Hanif Khan announcing the suspension of the access restrictions on Turnham Green Terrace. Cllr McGregor said, "Chiswick Councillors join the residents of Chiswick in their relief at the outcome of their campaign to bring about sensible solutions to the problems created by closures and traffic limitations. The re-opening of Turnham Green Terrace is one step forward in the Conservative Campaign Plan to save our streets and restore our roads." 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.
October 31, 2020 |