Forum Topic

Ample Parking in Chiswick town centre

I agree with the trader in your article reporting ample parking in Chiswick.  Because of the chaos of the traffic caused by cycle lanes and the closure of Fishers Lane I now walk to the High Road from where I live on the Hammersmith/Chiswick borders but I don't buy very much because I can't carry very much.  The traders must be losing business and I am sorry for them.

Marie Haenlein ● 386d57 Comments

Due to all the roadworks on the A316 many people are going up Kew Road and then rat running through Kew residential areas. Hence parts of the A316 look quite empty. No cyclists on Kew Road though!  Where are all these cyclists?

Steve Taylor ● 383d

Paul says “Michael, there is literally no point in discussing anything with these people. You're playing chess with pigeons. They have no pride of intellect so they will, without shame, argue that massive reductions in vehicles on a road increases pollution.Engaging with the substance of anti-LTN arguments is the same as paying VED on a bike.”The next time someone appears to think Paul’s an ok kind of guy, I’ve copied and pasted it for evidence. Paul taught me to do stuff like that. I think it’s ok in this situation

Maggie Dodge ● 383d

Good to see Paul Campbell return to type again and lower the tone to school playground names. And he says there’s no point discussing ….. you couldn’t make this up.Personally I discovered the Grove Park route way before satnav when playing hockey and cricket at the Poly sports grounds and to describe the main roads through Grove Park as ratruns I think is a bit of a stretch.Anyway I digress. Michael, you are correct there weren’t any complaints from me years ago, that’s because back then there wasn’t a private estate LTN adding to it. If you’re claiming that’s the numbers past and present then so be it, just imagine then how much lower the current figure would be then without the private estate LTN?I hate to disappoint you but since the hockey club relocated, I probably used to go through Grove Park say once a month at most so your suggestion of convenience of my driving I’m afraid is completely wrong, in actual fact I much prefer flooring it out of Sutton Court Lane onto the A4, up to the brewery and then back along the A316 as I enjoy time in my car. But I do listen to a friend going back over 30 years who lives on the A316 and is adamant it’s hell compared to before and no end of stats you or Paul present will persuade me ahead of their very real life experience, and yes they have kids.

Mark Talbot ● 383d

I prefer to think the best of people and if Mark never raised concerns about the volume of traffic on the A316 prior to the Grove Park traffic schemes and only started raising this after the scheme was implemented despite the A316 traffic reducing, then surely this must be a coincidence.

Michael Robinson ● 383d

Michael, there is literally no point in discussing anything with these people. You're playing chess with pigeons. They have no pride of intellect so they will, without shame, argue that massive reductions in vehicles on a road increases pollution. Engaging with the substance of anti-LTN arguments is the same as paying VED on a bike.

Paul Campbell ● 383d

Do you and Michael and Tom think you aren’t at the bottom of that list of people who’s information we might trust. You do have a sense of humour,  or do you not realise what you just did?

Maggie Dodge ● 383d

Ah, so you are saying that despite there being 8,000 fewer vehicles a day on the A316 in 2022 compared to 2019, somehow those fewer vehicles are causing worse traffic jams than previously.The ratrunners through Grove Park between the A316 and the A4 were the displaced traffic as a result of drivers slavishly following satnavs.  What was the point demolishing swathes of historic housing to build multi-lane roads if drivers wouldn't use them because google says so? How ungrateful is that?  There were over 12,000 more vehicles a day using the A316 in 2002 compared to 2022.  Can you point towards your complaints at the time about this volume of traffic using the road?  It would be massively hypocritical if someone was using faux-concern about residents and children as a smoke screen to hide the real reason for their objections, which is purely the convenience of their own driving.  But I'm sure you can provide lots of evidence about how you were complaining about all this traffic between 2000 to 2019 when it was higher than it is now.

Michael Robinson ● 383d

I note you now refer to traffic volumes on the A316 rather than displaced traffic causing serious traffic jams on it which of course are at certain times of the day, not 24 hours a day. But of course you know that already but chose to ignore the damage inflicted upon those that live on A316 or the children at the primary school on it.

Mark Talbot ● 383d

For anybody who is capable of receiving and processing information from sources other than the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, anti-ULEZ Facebook groups and the deranged X feed of a sociopathic bus driver from Enfield, it will come as no surprise that traffic volumes are down on the A316. Because those people may have sufficient critical faculties to understand the basic law of induction. Take away space from cars and you get fewer cars. Give space to bikes and you get more bikes. Simple stuff really.

Paul Campbell ● 383d

Just to remind you Mark that traffic on the A316 is lower now than it was in 2019 and the counts are done using video given you are clutching at straws about tube detectors across the road being inaccurate.The video counters don’t care what you think.

Michael Robinson ● 384d

Prolific posting today for someone who only usually sits on the sidelines and watches Ara. Maggie isn’t a friend and personally I can take or leave reading her posts depending on how much time I’ve available. I don’t find her anymore obsessive than Paul Campbell himself is. Although he does appear to have somewhat quietened down on this forum recently - I expect he far prefers his X echo chamber he’s created where everyone slaps each other on their backs. Saves him having to be reminded on here about annoying little things like displaced traffic onto the A316 and false traffic evaporation figures created by traffic counters that don’t count under 10KPH so report nose to tail queues as clear roads. As the saying goes believe your own eyes rather than the BS you’re being fed, never is that more necessary than now.

Mark Talbot ● 384d

Wow Russell, I’m so much stronger than I was before I found the need to surviving this forum’s bullies.  I enjoy the banter but what we endure locally has got to be fought.

Maggie Dodge ● 384d

And well done Maggie, looks like you rattled some clutched pearl jam

Russell Pearson ● 384d

👍 I like wise, been called lots of other things 😉

Janice Evans ● 384d

Janice you are a wise woman . Nail on the head.

Maggie Dodge ● 384d

Not one to usually comment on other Forum Members but wouldsay mostly Paul's posts are for feedback and a bit of a wind up which is o.kas guilty of that myself, however if continuing to post to jokingly annoy some of us I'm sure he expects some of the unusual replies he gets.  Justmy thought on things, I could be wrong and I'm sure he will let me know if I am.

Janice Evans ● 384d

Is it so inconceivable to you Maggie that there are people out there who read this forum and don’t take a ‘side’, because they are normal moderate people who see the balance of the arguments for and against? Life is not black and white and people are not ‘the cycle lobby’ or a ‘onesie’. Most of us are just regular people trying to stay safe and do our bit for the environment whilst travelling safely around the area we love!I don’t know who Paul is and I have never met him, however he at least appears to have a filter at points and although goady doesn’t seem to completely flood the forum with his own unfiltered opinion/unverified tweets. Additionally he appears to have some facts and statistics to back up his points which is a part of the debate you seem to miss entirely.Either way, wherever my perceived allegiance lies, we return to the same underlying point. You force your ill informed opinions on us all by a larger ratio than any other poster on this forum and collectively we are becoming tired of having to suffer them. Please could you get the message, read the room, take note…. This forum/ community would be a whole lot nicer if you posted less.Many thanks in advance 👍🏻

Ara Jones ● 384d

Don’t you wonder why Ara is so vocal all of a sudden David? Is she/he real? Why can Paul and Michael speculate about fake accounts but no one else is allowed? Fair question I’d say. Her/his info is definitely out of date.

Maggie Dodge ● 384d

Well Ara, you are clearly a Paul disciple ,versed in his tactics . Holding on  to old information and thinking it’s ammunition., it’s really not,  even if it’s accurate and yours is so out of date. When was my last contact with anyone in OneChiswick? If you think you know who my “mates” , are back it up. When did I post on OneChiswick? Do  you know the cycle lobby set up fake accounts pretending to be OneChiswck posting nasty stuff. I call your lot the dirty tricks brigade. Can’t win in a fair fight. The cycle lane and the floating bus stops are hated by many , including cyclist, and are dangerous but that’s just a minor irritation to you. So why quiet for so long, been away?

Maggie Dodge ● 384d

Amen to that, you speak for a lot of people Ara.

David Burke ● 384d

Jeez Maggie it’s not a clever “in-joke” 🙄 it’s just a label given to people whose views align with the members of the defunct ‘One Chiswick’. The group that enjoy shouting loudly about using their cars at any cost (even if that cost is the safety and air quality of pedestrians and other road users.) You should know about them Maggie.. aren’t Margie and Marlene your mates?  Anyway for all us normal mid-ground folk who want the best for all and like to debate like adults (rather than flogging petty insults about the size of peoples privates/cars) we don’t enjoy your continuing personal vendetta as it takes up space in an otherwise enjoyable forum discussion. Regarding pointing out ‘what I do’ … if you are referring to getting tired of boring peoples repeat nonsensical posts that spew out like a constant rant that we all have to listen to then yes this is ‘what I do’. I, and many OTHERS have grown bored of you particular brand of BS and would be massively grateful if you would take a break every once in a while, learn to filter your inner most thoughts and perhaps think before you post! That would be great, 👍🏻 ta x

Ara Jones ● 384d

I’ve looked at your March posts last year. This is what you do 🥲Worse though is you are ill informed . Paul won’t thank you.If you don’t get the Onesie reference, I’m not explaining it, it’s an in-joke for regulars and one of Paul’s  obnoxious digs. You’re embarrassing yourself but keep it up , I’ve got time on my hands.

Maggie Dodge ● 384d

Dear lord Maggie, it’s clearly worse than I first thought! Surely you have been in this debate long enough to know what the term “onesie” refers to? Tumbleweed * as even your fellow extreme antis refuse to back you though… …

Ara Jones ● 384d

The other Markets we visit Maggie, the Markets and shops are all doing well.

Janice Evans ● 384d

Is Ara a Onesie?

Maggie Dodge ● 384d

Oh dear someone who can read my name and not scroll past. There’s a tip for you Ara Paul has an obsession with all car drivers. He could stop this now by answering the question about how he justifies owning a car and what model it is. Otherwise I and OTHERS will continue , as Paul does, relentlessly. If you’re a friend of his have a word

Maggie Dodge ● 384d

Some of us read everything Mark. We just only feel the need to comment when we become tired of filtering out all the ill educated, ill informed bilge Maggie spews on every single thread on this forum. I don't enjoy all of the recent changes to Chiswick , however, I enjoy reading reasoned debate and discussion from adults about the pros and cons for these changes. I don’t want to read Maggie’s single minded and frankly tiresome obsession with one man and his car.  It’s boring and embarrassing and if you were  any kind of friend you would tell her so.  Do you want to discuss things like an adult or would you too like to take petty obsessions and subject everyone else to them on the daily? Your choice I suppose, you are welcome of course to back Maggie and then  we know we can return you and all your comments  to kindergarten too!

Ara Jones ● 384d

Welcome back Ara after an 11 month absence since your one and only previous post in a similar vein last March.

Mark Talbot ● 385d

Good grief this is peek creepy and  pathetic even for you Maggie. Do you actually have anything to say other than bitching and sniping at a man that appears to not even know you exist! Have you noticed he doesn’t even respond to your ridiculous and frankly embarrassing obsessive commentary about him? Have you not noticed than most of the hardened antis won’t even back you because you sound so bloody deranged. Honestly take a day off and leave the adults to discuss the local issues if all you can add is boring bollocks about one random man and his ‘big one’ 🙄

Ara Jones ● 385d

I hear Paul sold his car, round of applause. Well done Paul . Good job you’ve got the cargo bike

Maggie Dodge ● 385d

There won’t be car free cities in the UK for generations to come. Cars are getting bigger and better and the government is investing heavily. The economy relies on the car industry and its growing and growing. Look at the salary Elon Musk is getting from Tesla. The industry is a viable investment due to its continued growth.

Steve Taylor ● 385d

Car-free cities will become the countryside as business and retail will die.  Why not just move to the country if you want car-free?  A nice little village where you can bore yourself to death and not bother the rest of us.

Claire Moran ● 385d

I don't go into Chiswick unless I have an optician or dental appointment now - unpleasant and stressful.

Claire Moran ● 385d

I knew a beach where you had to have a carful of beachgoers in order to get a cheaper parking price.  The parking area was small.  We often walked.

Philippa Bond ● 385d

Where’s the plenty of parking Janice?

Maggie Dodge ● 385d

How can you tell when  the cycle lobby are losing an argument?

Maggie Dodge ● 385d

Good to hear some first hand accounts of traffic evaporation in Chiswick! Keep up the good work people. Car-free cities!

Paul Campbell ● 385d

I'd tarmac Acton Green, Turnham Green and Chiswick Back common too. Even ampler space for parking!

Francis Sheehan ● 385d

Plenty of spaces in Ye Olde Parking at weekends if you have a kebab hut or a smelly cheese shed and willing to pay a large slab.

Russell Pearson ● 386d

The market we visit I did ask the shop owners how it affected them and they all said they had benefit, will say there is plenty of parking there.

Janice Evans ● 386d

Are you not reading what I’m reading?  People have stopped shopping. The traders paying high rents are losing  customers. Move the markets and leave the car park, win win .

Maggie Dodge ● 386d

Why don’t we make it 24/7?Well how about the fact that people like the markets on Sundays and there are far more people attending those than the smaller number of cars that used to park there on Sundays.

Andrew Jones ● 386d

Vintage Maggie there.

Mark Frost ● 386d

How about we give it its proper name, on a nice big board  so that there’s no confusion and keep it as a car park 24/7 so there’s no confusion. Do away with the cycle lane and open up the entrance so that people know it exists. Do away with the floating bus stop that endangered a blind man’s life. Simple.

Maggie Dodge ● 386d

My uncle drove a mobility scooter that looked like something out of Easy Rider.He concentrated on what he could do rather than what he couldn't and is still going at over 100.  It's something well worth thinking about.

Philippa Bond ● 386d

Maybe it could be called ‘Ye Olde Chiswick Police Station (Closed 2019) Weekday and Saturday Car Park’

Andrew Jones ● 386d

It’s the Chiswick Police Station car park and will be very apt if the police station returns. It’s only ample when it’s a car park, not when it’s a market 😂

Maggie Dodge ● 386d

So you use a description that is not.right or televangelist and you think that makes sense.😂seriously you tried really really aggressively to get the name changed and failed. C’est la vie as the French farmers say !

Maggie Dodge ● 386d

Ye Olde Car Park

Russell Pearson ● 386d

Thank you Andrew for correcting me - just describing it as the central car park will confuse some people which is why the Old Market Place is such a useful designation. We do this for Maggie's benefit of course.

Francis Rowe ● 386d

“Central car park” is in Old Market Place of course 😉

Andrew Jones ● 386d

What happened to doing what you want when you want, rather than be dictated to? Where is the “central car park”

Maggie Dodge ● 386d

What's happened to using backpacks and shopping trolleys?  Those are the traditional ways of shopping if you don't want to carry shopping.  Some trolleys even have clever wheels to make it easier to go up steps - or folding - or can be used as a seat as well.Some shops will also deliver.  Buying less and buying fresh is a great way to reduce waste - since we have such a reputation for wasting so much fresh produce.  Everything is more tempting to cook and eat when it is fresh.

Philippa Bond ● 386d

That's correct. Ignore the sign that says 'for Sainsbury's customers' just remember to be out promptly within the two hours. I do appreciate if you are coming from Hammersmith direction it could take some time to get to this end of the High Road but the central car park entered via Devonshire Road is nearer for you. There always seems to be space in the morning.

Francis Rowe ● 386d

I often drive to the High Road for shopping and never have a problem finding a space to park. The Sainsburys car park is also free for up to two hours.

Jonathan Simpson ● 386d

And please don’t say ‘take a bus’ I want to shop early and the bus pass only starts after 9am

Helen Bamberger ● 386d

Yes Marie - I gave up my car as parking etc has become untenable- I also walk to the High Road - long walk - too old to cycle and carrying everything is awful !!!

Helen Bamberger ● 386d