Oxford is hardly a siginifier for Chiswick and the latter's traffic problems.Basically it is a small(ish) medieval city, which is experiencing severe growth problems from tourism, University expansion, commerce and industry etc. Which in turn has contributed to it having one of the fastest growing populations in the UK, now the 5th most densely populated Local Authority in the South East of England. Naturally this has pushed house prices well above the national average.Yet it cannot expand outwards as most such cities would normally do, since it is completey surrounded by Green Belt - or the "Green Noose", as locals have dubbed it.Which means traffic in the city itself is ever more congested, while with so many of the working population forced to live outside the city and beyond the Green Belt, it suffers extremely high levels of commuter traffic in and out.This latter is so extensive, that they have been forced to introduce several Park-and-Rise schemes in mitigation, for drivers to park up well outsiode the city and continue their journey by traoin, coach or bus.Of course, although Oxford's particular circumstances are rather different from Chiswick's, when it comes to mindsets, there is one similarity. Namely, the severe congestion and pollution in the city itself is leading to increased conflict between local residents who are demanding LTN's, and car drivers who are opposing them.Which last point is possibly the only similarity between Chiswick and Oxford.
Richard Cathcart ● 1429d