Michael, you equally assume that every vehicle journey is some kind of joy ride. Bus services are being cut, W4 lacks step free access at any station to the tube network. There are certainly plenty of cars in queues, but also lots of vans, lorries and buses.We see a broader issue unfolding across W4 in recent months. Episodic gridlock has sadly long been a feature of Chiswick, due to its proximity to the A4/ M4 and north circular. We have the tidal flow of traffic into London and W4 every day and out every evening. It is in reality more complex, as there is quite a big flow also out of London in the morning and back in the evening. The former is not a problem, but the return evening flow can be as if the A4 is backed up into London from the Hogarth, then this traffic spills into W4. With W4 often already gridlocked by traffic looking to exit London via Chiswick roundabout or Sutton Court Road, we can end up with roads blocked in both directions. The problem is that north of the A4, nothing has been to restrict these traffic flows, nearly all of it through traffic and not local traffic. Certain posters will try and pretend its not a problem and its down to your neighbour driving to the shops. Its not and the introduction of the current version CS9 has reduced key road capacity and will increase both the frequency and duration of this gridlock. I challenge anyone who disagrees to walk/ cycle any evening down Sutton Court Road to the A4 or the High Road down to Chiswick roundabout and see the reality on the ground.The version of CS9 as installed through central Chiswick has reduced traffic capacity along that stretch of the High Road. At the western end the new bus gate reduces the eastbound capacity of the High Road by 70%, while the new signal phasing around Chiswick Lane and Goldhawk Road junctions with the High Road probably cut capacity there by a further 20% for north-south (including reducing Chiswick Lane northbound to a single lane). We then add in the closure of Fishers Lane and the reduced capacity of TGT (when it’s not shut), again due to light phasing of maybe 20%. Plus the closure of the westen end of Wellesley and Stile Hall to through traffic. So from an east-west and north-south perspective there are fewer routes and less capacity on those that remain. The obvious question is where that traffic goes. There is sense to many of these closures, I am sure for those on these routes its lovely. But the problem is that the aggregate impact of these changes is huge and increases the vulnerability of W4 to gridlock, with traffic displaced so that others now bear the brunt. To deny this is to deny reality.Certain lobbyists will then tell you its all fine as traffic evaporates. A story we don’t see repeating very often in recent months as lived experience gets in the way. It’s convenient that there are no pollution monitors on SCR or the western ends of the High Road, or the High Road junction with Acton Lane. All may give a rather different picture to the idea that CS9 has reduced pollution.There are then the unintended consequences (even if quite predictable). The new bus gate displaces traffic onto Wellesley Road and up Heathfield Gardens from the A4, as traffic that used to use the High Road to reach Acton Lane uses other routes. On Wednesday morning, queues stretched on Wellesley Road back from the roundabout by Rhythm and Brews all the way to the Pilot, on what is supposed to be a safe and quiet stretch of CS9. Accidents are now a common feature, there have been multiple and so far minor collisions on the roundabout itself by Rhythm and Brews. Last Friday afternoon, Wellesley Road was closed due to another serious accident with vehicles cutting down from the High Road. There are no easy solutions. But the current line seems to be 'if its not causing gridlock its not working'. Well its not working. Commuter and leisure traffic into London needs to be discouraged in favour of public transport. Bikes will not displace any of the daily flow in and out of London, but badly designed schemes will just see more congestion and pollution.
Bill George ● 1550d