Forum Topic

SOTG restrictions

Are these in place?. I can see no signs anywhere or cameras. What exactly are the points you cannot drive through?

Sean Wales ● 2103d11 Comments

Like Alice we are living in a "through the looking glass world". The experimental traffic order is in place for Thames Rd/SOG and the signs are up - but blow me the cameras have not arrived. Quelle surprise.In practice this means that the scheme cannot be enforced. But in theory a police man could tail you and issue you with a ticket but the chances of that happening are believed to be pretty low.When the SOG scheme goes live officers have assured ward cllrs (myself, Gabriella Giles and Mike Denniss) that they will let residents know and initially only write to offenders to let the know that they have technically committed an offence.This approach has also been been adopted for the Green Dragon Lane and Hartington Road schemes. Officers say that over 2,000 letters have been sent to drivers who have broken the rules by driving along Hartington Road (from the A316).I suggest that you email traffic@hounslow.gov if you need any further clarification.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2103d

It's a few weeks ago now, but my wife saw a Serco mobile camera car parked up at the Kew Bridge end of SOTG. I don't know how this would work though if there wasn't also a camera at the Grove Park Terrace end of Thames Road to provide a second point for timing the passing of vehicles.Just another mystery to add to this shambles.

Bruce Hammal ● 2103d

Just a police man, Sam?

Graham Holley ● 2103d

Councillor Hearn,Do you disagree with this attempt to reduce non-local traffic using residential roads ?If so, would you rollback this and other traffic measures raised on this forum if you ran the Council ?Do you believe traffic should be allowed to travel on any road ?

David Grantley ● 2102d

Below is the reply from Hounslow to my FOI request. How the Council ascertains whether a vehicle entering Thames Road has accessed premises or not is beyond me.ResponseThere is not a minimum period that a vehicle should be in Thames Road. The restriction is that no motor vehicle should enter or proceed in the restricted streets unless for the purposes of accessing premises that are only accessible from the restricted street. If a vehicle enters or proceeds in the restricted street without having accessed premises, regardless of the time taken, then it would be in contravention of the restriction and may be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice. The response to your request has been dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Copyright and misuse of information Most of the information that is provided in response to an FOI request will be owned by the London Borough of Hounslow and is therefore covered by the Open Government Licence. However, the copyright of some of the information we share may be owned by another person or organisation (e.g. Ordnance Survey). Individuals and organisations are free to re-use any information covered by the Open Government Licence for commercial or non-commercial purposes, provided the terms of the licence are adhered to. Where the copyright of the information is owned by another person or organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission for re-use.If you do not feel that the Council has dealt with your request for information appropriately or wish to request a review of this response, please contact the FOI/EIR Review Officer at foi@hounslow.gov.uk If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to appeal directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision at the following address; Information Commissioner’s OfficeWycliffe HouseWater LaneWilmslowCheshire SK9 5AF I hope this is useful, should you need further information please let me know and I’ll be happy to assist. Kind RegardsSeth Seth Twombley |Transport Project Officer (Consultation, Community Engagement, Business Systems)London Borough of HounslowHounslow House, 7 Bath RoadHounslow TW3 3EB

Jeffrey Cope ● 2102d

Good grief! What does ‘accessed premises’ mean? Do you have to walk through a door? Or, would it be good enough to hand post, eg, a birthday card through a friend’s door? Dash into the post office for a quick hello? Without cameras all the way along and stopwatches, what can they prove?

Vivienne Cox ● 2102d

Well some of the traffic we've seen travelling along Thames Road is going way too fast to have stopped and have posted a letter.

Philippa Bond ● 2102d

If that's the issue ask the Council for a speed camera.

Bruce Hammal ● 2102d

It’s another issue, but not THE issue which is cars using Thames Road as a rat run between Kew Bridge Road and the A316.

Andrew Jones ● 2102d

The term rat run is not one that everyone agrees with.  For some it is a question of getting from A to B.  If they are trying to cut down pollution from cars, this is yet another situation where making journeys longer is defeating the object.

Maggie Dodge ● 2102d

Yes but not agreeing with something doesn't mean that you can always just do what you want.  If you fill the streets up with cars then people can no longer walk and cycle.

Philippa Bond ● 2101d