Forum Topic

Are the School Street schemes being enforced during the lockdown?

Finally, Hounslow Council has confirmed that they will pause the operation of all School Streets across the borough until after February half-term. The signs will remain but the restrictions will not be enforced.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2108d16 Comments

And drivers who haven't just checked with w4.com are supposed to know this how? What has happened to the "flip-down" signs - are they proving too difficult for the folk in traffic to get their heads around? I'll knock some up if it helps.

Bruce Hammal ● 2108d

Goodness only knows Bruce. I suspect that officers are loath to tell people because they "need" drivers to change their behaviours and do not wish to sending messages that might confuse anyone.I have just resolved the issue of a local unadopted (i.e. private) street that Hounslow had wrongly recently placed signage for a CPZ on. They have now admitted their mistake. The truth is the council does not know our streets as well as we the residents do.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2108d

Sam, I first raised this with Hounslow Council back in early November. Other than acknowledging there was a problem,absolutely nothing has been done about it. I can only conclude that either are you right about there being an ulterior motive or it's just incompetence. Either option seems equally likely!

Bruce Hammal ● 2108d

The comment from Sam Hearn 'I suspect that officers are loath to tell people because they "need" drivers to change their behaviours and do not wish to sending messages that might confuse anyone.' Says it all really - just who runs things - paid employees or elected members? If members want these 'flip downs' used then it is up to them to instruct the officers to do it surely?

Vanessa Smith ● 2108d

Is it the case that they don’t know the streets as well as they SHOULD  if they’re in control of them? Is that why they’re making such a pigs ear of the whole NTL cycle lane fiasco? Or is that being generous, maybe they know exactly what they’re doing

Maggie Dodge ● 2108d

You seem to forget that you are part of the Council

Stewart Jones ● 2106d

“ and do not wish to sending messages that might confuse anyone.”Hahaha. That would be a first!

Steve Taylor ● 2105d

Do the restrictions apply during school holidays?The letter from Mark Frost dated 20 August 2020 advised that the Grove Park Primary School restriction "will operate during term time only". However the signs make no mention of this.  Is it a case that the sign is wrong or that our public servants changed the rules after that letter?

John Ridout ● 2105d

If these 'school closures' were simple barriers that volunteers pulled across the road at the appropriate times, it would be much simpler for everyone.

Peter Evans ● 2105d

Unless emergency vehicles need to get to the school of course.

Andrew Jones ● 2105d

..in which event the volunteers can pull the barriers out of the way.

Peter Evans ● 2105d

If they’re there - which would be a bit more of an imposition on the volunteers than just putting the barriers across the road at the start and removing them at the end.I think having flaps on signs is a much better idea.

Andrew Jones ● 2104d

Everyone loves flaps. 

John Hall ● 2104d

Wouldn’t visitors to the school need to get through. Basically it doesn’t  really work and isn’t  really needed. Since the legal ruling in the High Court changes will have to be made. These fiascos with badly thought out schemes may well go.

Maggie Dodge ● 2104d

Whatever happened to the Lollipop Ladies, oops PERSONS!!!  Worked back in time - are they going to be mown down by irate motorists all ignoring the 20mph and street school signs?

Jennifer Selig ● 2104d

Computers now do the jobs that many people used to do. Many residents don't want to pay any tax or want to pick and choose which bits of a service they want.  Of course there is a terrific outcry every so often when something awful happens and everyone realises that there are no police or social services and all the other services necessary for a civilised society.

Philippa Bond ● 2104d