Forum Topic

Staveley Road Cherry Blossoms

Can someone tell me, as someone who used to enjoy photographing the beautiful cherry tree blossoms on Staveley Road but no longer can drive that way because of the traffic restrictions, if the blossoms are in bloom? or if too early give me a nod when they are and I'll park somewhere and walk there. Thanks in advance.

Markos Williams ● 1631d46 Comments

So sad.

Claire Moran ● 1631d

I'm sure the residents of Staveley Road loved all the through traffic coming through on the off chance the trees might be in blossom.

John Hall ● 1631d

They were happy enough to move there before.

Claire Moran ● 1631d

Wonder how they felt about that eyesore of a red and white plastic barricade? Now the £100,000 solid barricade . Beautiful 😍

Maggie Dodge ● 1631d

Japan has cherry blossom information daily on their weather forecasts.  Perhaps ChiswickW4 could copy.

Vivienne Cox ● 1630d

By that logic John, such as it is, those who live by Kew Gardens (by choice) must be fuming at all those admirers.

David Lesniak ● 1630d

There's a wall between the road and Kew Gardens, genius. 

John Hall ● 1630d

Huge number of visitors traipsing past your house if you live nearby, genius

Maggie Dodge ● 1630d

Markos, you say that you "used to enjoy ... Staveley Road but no longer can drive that way because of the traffic restrictions."You now have to cover the cherry-tree part of Staveley Road in two sections, but it's not difficult.I imagine that you may be used to approaching Staveley Road from the south. If so, continue to Hogarth Roundabout and head west on A4. Turn left into Park Road which will lead you into the north-western section of Staveley Road.  Then left into Sutton Court Road, left into Lawford Road, left into Park Road, which will lead you into the central section of Staveley Road.  Continue via Burlington Lane in either direction.If you're there between 8 am - 7 pm, Mom - Sat, avoid the south-eastern end of Staveley Road by Chiswick School, as it's for pedestrians and cyclists only at those times.

Richard Jennings ● 1630d

John, let me know what the wall has to do with driving.Let us all know how you get on with that one.

David Lesniak ● 1630d

It would be hilarious if it wasn't so ridiculous.

Mandy Waters ● 1630d

Yes Mandy - rediculous !

Helen Bamberger ● 1630d

This money - over £1000.000 thousands have been so good better used - I give up -

Helen Bamberger ● 1630d

The number of cars going along the Kew Road (A307 I think I.e. a Trunk Road) because they are visiting Kew Gardens is going to be a very small proportion of the total traffic going along that road.I don’t know how many cars used to drive the length of Stavely Road to admire the Cherry Blossom but I imagine some drivers chose to drive that way simply because of the Cherry Blossom but didn’t intend to park in the vicinity.I don’t know what I really think about it to be honest - I can see arguments for both those who want to keep the restrictions and those who want to remove them - and unless there is any demonstrable benefit of retaining the barriers I would like to see ALL the residents of Stavely Road and whatever the other road is that the barriers are on polled to see if they want to retain the barriers. Not anyone further away than these two roads though. Make it really’local’.NB Happy for a local vote on removing restrictions, but I wouldn’t support a vote on putting in restrictions.

Andrew Jones ● 1630d

Sorry -,100 thousand pounds - still an enormous amount which I am sure you would find these monies could have been better spent .

Helen Bamberger ● 1630d

Still got it wrong - £100,000 spent on a road which didn't need to be spent on - yes Mandy you are right .

Helen Bamberger ● 1630d

Cherry Blossom Time regretfully doesn't last very long ~ optimally barely 2 or 3 days when blossoms bloom all too soon have been pollinated by bees and insects or wind-blowing as of April's Global Warming gusts right now in London twixt male and female trees hurriedly sexed before all the cherry trees look thoroughly ugly and brown. Probably, too late now to see any wondrous cherry tree blossoming sights in Chiswick or anywhere in London.

Bobbie Carnegie ● 1630d

I have a Cherry Blossom tree right outside my house. People  are constantly taking photos of it, when  it’s in bloom. The blossom is now on the floor and it’s a daily chore to sweep it up. It’s everywhere and a bit of a mess! Still no point  waiting for the Council to sweep up

Maggie Dodge ● 1630d

"but it's not difficult"Richard, with respect, it took you two paragraphs to explain the circumstances which, sadly, remain unclear.Used to be no paragraphs were required to live on these roads nor use them.

David Lesniak ● 1629d

Is there no accountability for these big spends? Whose name is in the paper that signed this off. Can you imagine the good and necessary  work that could be done for £100,000? This has to be an abuse of some sort. The next administration will be left to pick up the pieces

Maggie Dodge ● 1629d

Thank you all, especially Richard for the directions - I was wondering how I would get in! But, alas, It seems I'm already too late to see the best of the blooms. I was a bit late in asking. Sorry to be another conduit for the barrier/road closure debate! But, I for one will certainly miss the famous staveley road blossoms in its entirety (without the barrier)!!.

Markos Williams ● 1629d

It may be of interest to some viewers that when the blossoms were in season, and when in the vicinity, the late Queen Mother often asked her chauffeur to drive her down this once beautiful road.

Denis I. Fox ● 1629d

I live nearby and the blossoms are getting ready to burst open but not quite there yet. Wouldn't want to say when the event might exactly take place but there is a cherry blossom festival on the 19th April to coincide with the blossoms, details as follows:https://chiswickherald.co.uk/date-announced-for-blossom-day-street-party-p11151-306.htmEnjoy!

Tamara Mehta ● 1629d

My other half an I cycled down on the off-chance that they would be out thinking next week would be too busy. It would however be fitting if they blossomed on Easter weekend.The experience of riding along Staveley Road is undeniably better due to the reduced number of cars and the new 'barrier' is a massive improvement aesthetically but we dismounted on approaching it rather than trying to get our heads around the extra complexity of navigating through it.

Anita Blake ● 1626d

The blossoms were out yesterday afternoon on Staveley.

Paul Campbell ● 1626d

Cherry blossom trees are beautiful for a brief period but what I would like to know is how they contribute food to our native birds.I have a mature cherry opposite my house but I can't say I have noticed birds feasting on the fruits in Autumn whereas my mature native hawthorne is alive with all comers at that time of year and the deep red blossom is a match for any cherry.Also do any Staveley folk harvest the fruit?

Adrian Irving ● 1626d

They are flowering trees and only produce tiny fruits that birds will eat - but not humans! I am slightly confused about the whole thread however.  I don't like the barrier and think it is now surplus to requirement but if you want to come and see the cherry blossom, you can drive to one end of Staveley Road and get out of your car, walk a bit and enjoy the sight surely? The road can be accessed by car with a minimum of effort.

Cecile Parfitt ● 1626d

There are a number of issues: sadly the £100k figure is an underestimate,  the figure is much higher over £150k, maybe nearer £200k, according to TfL/Council figures;  the road layout is dangerous by the Councils own admission, and does not allow vehicles to easily pass or not pass on a bend, as such the Council will be wholly or partly responsible for any accidents; it is unnecessary with the other restrictions and the Councils own consultation showed that 80% of the residents wanted the barrier removed and the original road layout reinstated; and, lastly as Hanif(I am listening) Khan said at the Church meeting in March it is only permanent for now.  Genius. 

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1626d

Tamara,  the party was planned for 2020.  There is not one planned for this year.

Daniel Goldsmith ● 1626d

We did some research on the history of the cherry blossom and cherry trees, including royal visites.  You can find this at http://blossomdayw4.org.uk/history/

Daniel Goldsmith ● 1626d

"the road layout is dangerous by the Councils own admission"Who said this, and when?"does not allow vehicles to easily pass or not pass on a bend"The spacing looked adequate to me this evening (see photos below). There are plenty of bends and junctions in narrow low-traffic residential roads that don't attract that sort of comment.

Richard Jennings ● 1625d

Well done Denis for passing that bit of history

Janice White ● 1625d

In written correspondence and verbal correspondence from LbH officers and councillors and seen by local residents is the understanding.  Appears some residents appointed Transport and Highway engineers who have confirmed that it does not meet Highway standards and that this has been acknowledged by Council officers.  Was discussed at a local Church meeting back in March between residents supposedly.

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1625d

Markos, I would say the cherry blossom on Stavely is just about there. Drove down yesterday and they were starting to look beautiful

Sue Thexton ● 1623d

Still in bloom, no wind or bad weather so I expect them to remain over Easter period.

Paul Jennings ● 1622d

Excellent. Thank you!

Markos Williams ● 1622d

The Blossom looks good today.As per notes above the road layout is dangerous by the Councils own admission, and does not allow vehicles to easily pass or not pass on a bend, as such the Council will be wholly or partly responsible for any accidents.  Friends in leading car insurers say that if you do see or are involved in an accident do make sure those involved know of the liability of the council in setting out this unsafe design.  Files and emails on record.

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1621d

So they spent £110,0000 plus to come up with a dangerous design. Why does that ring a bell?

Maggie Dodge ● 1621d

Yes it’s brilliant isn’t it !!

Helen Bamberger ● 1621d

"As per notes above the road layout is dangerous by the Councils own admission"The notes above were your own assertion that the Council had admitted that the road was dangerous, which you were unable to confirm.  All you could offer was "correspondence ... seen by local residents" and "appears some residents appointed (sic) Transport and Highway engineers who have confirmed that it does not meet Highway standards and that this has been acknowledged by Council officers."That's all hearsay and doesn't explain what's dangerous about the scheme on these low-traffic residential roads. One can debate whether the scheme is needed or not, but pretending that it's dangerous is in my view unwarranted scaremongering.

Richard Jennings ● 1621d

The C9 cycle lane through Chiswick High Road, has been described as dangerous by  many people, including cyclists and people crossing the road.  Does this make it dangerous?  Has there ever been a proper Risk Assessment carried out?  Similarly with Staveley Road, has there been a Risk Assessment, who decides if its dangerous? Has Hounslow been able to categorically deny these claims, have they tried.  I read a lot on these forums but may easily have missed this.  I am sure someone will answer the questions.

Maggie Dodge ● 1621d

It is understood that residents have taken independent highways advice from Highways and Road experts in regard to Staveley Rd.  That advice sets out that the road layouts do not conform to highway design standards.  Further correspondence from the Council acknowledges that the layouts do not conform. Cost of "only permanent for now" barrier according to Hanif Khan is £150 to £200k.  Data received from Council and TfL.  That is the understanding.  it is simply reporting what was shared with residents at the Church meeting.  It is not scaremongering.

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1621d

Interesting information Jonathan.thank you  So one wonders if the same Council bothered to get sound safety advice on C9. How are they getting away with this ?

Maggie Dodge ● 1621d

We went yesterday and my wife, who suddenly turned into some sort of model (!), took some lovely photos. Luckily it was a Sunday so I could enter my normal way near the school. Its a shame we couldn't drive down the entire road but hey-ho. As an outsider what confuses me is with all the strict traffic restrictions now in place, why do they need any sort of barrier stopping only the locals from going about their day to day business?

Markos Williams ● 1619d

Was it not peak peloton conditions from the Tour de France along Staveley Road?  That was the reasoning for putting it in I understand.  A resident in Grove Park said the other day they had seen a bike once but said that might be a figment of their imagination.  Supposedly Candidate Hanif Khan is standing on a pledge that he wants to close the roads in Chiswick Gunnersbury now.

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1619d

Simple answer, they don’t Markos. The Labour  Council thought it would be fun to spend £110,000 ++  to ensure there was no easy way back from their wicked anti motoring plans.

Maggie Dodge ● 1619d