Forum Topic

Grove Park 'Piazza'

As with the Cycle Lane along Chiswick High Road, here is another instance of Hounslow not caring about the livelihood of businesses in Chiswick.  The parking places are needed here and it is a selfish few - The Grove Park Group - who have agitated for this "piazza". The Grove Park Group does not represent many of the people who live in Grove Park.

Rae Lewis ● 1048d12 Comments

Given the fact that they have gone to the trouble of forming said group, You should have perhaps applied to join

Mark Frost ● 1048d

More than 10 years in the making this is not a knee jerk reaction, but the subject of numerous studies.Many of the local bays are used by commuters to park - bringing no business to the shops. Reading the detail - there will be more pay by phone - but they have 30 mins FREE which surely suits these shops - unless you plan extended browsing, in which case, on street FREE parking is less than 5 minutes away.The largest footfall has to be from Chiswick Rail station - and prioritising this element is what the scheme is about, as well as slowing down the traffic in the area.The scheme has been carefully thought through by the GPG (I was a member then) and transport consultants. LBH has just been supportive of this community effort.IF you feel GPG is not representative of your views, and live in the GPG area and are not a member, then join and have your say!GPG have 'campaigned' for changes to this area to improve it for Grove Park and the surrounds - and obviously for the businesses!

James Holmes-Siedle ● 1048d

The 2020 consultation for the scheme reported the results of a parking survey saying:“This survey assessed the availability of parking spaces every half hour between 7am and 7pm. The results show that of the 13 spaces outside the shops (excluding the one disabled blue badge space), 7 were filled with the same parked vehicle for a period of at least 6 consecutive hours. A further 2 spaces were filled consecutively for at least 3 hours.”

Michael Robinson ● 1048d

That’s not a survey far to small a sample to be called a survey 😂😂😂😂 small minded mentality

Jayne Thorburn ● 1048d

I don’t think I’ve ever had a say in anything that happens where I live. Or in Chiswick generally, what makes Grove Park residents so special?

Maggie Dodge ● 1048d

The 'Grove Park Group' (small ££ to join) decided to try to influence things in their neighbourhood that they liked/disliked.Meetings/politics, and some fun summer parties have lead to some proposals to improve the area.Special because some residents decided to invest time and money in their area - yes!But it is generally only a small number of residents, because participation is generally low - (lets call it 'turnout') - which means that it does seem unrepresentative. But representative of those who take part!

James Holmes-Siedle ● 1047d

Judging from the posts of desperation on the local Facebook groups, particularly in Brentford, Hounslow Council is failing miserably to keep the roads in order. The cycle lane in Brentford, issues with the new Morrisons, unnecessary temporary lights are causing unacceptable misery for locals.  I think Hounslow has its hands full with day to day issues. It seems to be tunnel visioned in its responsibilities. Perhaps the Piazza could wait.

Maggie Dodge ● 1047d

Reducing the number of parking spaces at the shops is a mistake.  Customers to the shops need to be able to park.  It is also a mistake to narrow the road behind these spaces, making it more difficult for cars to back out of these spaces without hitting oncoming and through car traffic.It would also help us all in this part of Grove Park if the restriction on traffic via of Staveley Road from the A316 to Burlington Lane was lifted - forcing cars to either take a long route round by the Hogarth roundabout or go down Bolton Road(before 8am).  I take my life in my hands every morning when I try to bicycle down Bolton Road to get my daily newspaper from the newsagent.

Victoria Lynch ● 1047d

The thinking is that by extending the hours of enforcement you create more parking by stopping people taking up spaces for extended periods and therefore help the businesses in the area by increasing the chances that more 'stop and shop' spaces will be available for half an hour's free parking.That probably would work for the convenience stores, the chemist and the dry cleaner but is going to be a huge blow for the cafe and the hair dresser. The report into the decision doesn't mention what businesses had to say about the problem and the chances are a majority will have been in favour but if the changes present an existential threat to some of the businesses it would surprise me if the rest are okay with them.The other factor that needs to be considered is the Station House. I don't know what the latest is there but last I heard there seemed to be very slow progress on reopening. The removal free parking nearby may make further investment in the venue less attractive and the large amount of money being spent on this project to make the area nicer will have been wasted because of the big empty building at its heart.Does anyone know if permission for the new flats is conditional on the pub reopening?

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1047d

Jeremy, I think you are underestimating the benefit to all businesses of making the area more attractive to visit which will bring more customers. A loss of free parking directly in front won't drive the cafe or the hairdressers out of business because there will still be pay by phone parking available and, free parking for most of the day if a customer is prepared to walk a relatively short distance.The same applies to the Station House although you are right that the Piazza won't be quite the same if the pub doesn't reopen.

Diane Brown ● 1046d

I just hope Hounslow sorts out its priorities but then that would be a first!

Maggie Dodge ● 1046d

You may be right and it is reasonable to expect the changes to improve how the area looks.I don't know for sure the views of businesses as the report doesn't make it clear. I'm just a bit uncomfortable with the blanket assumption made by the council officers and the failure to account for businesses whose customers would need to park for more than half an hour. They seem to assume any lost business will be minimal, and that may be correct in absolute terms but any shop with high fixed costs can see profits fall quite steeply due to a relatively small drop in takings.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1046d