Forum Topic

Grove Park Piazza

Does anyone have any idea if this is going ahead ?  If and when work might commence if it is? I spoke to some of the businesses along there today - not happy bunnies !

Madeleine Hazard ● 373d21 Comments

Well you will have by now ! Well and truly under way, all the businesses are ticked off and can’t see the benefits - meanwhile a 4-stop light system for the foreseeable god knows how many months ….. oh joy

Madeleine Hazard ● 360d

I think that will happen after Labour win the election. Labour Westminster Council, Labour Mayor and Labour government will make it probable. Soho is just filled up with Ubers with people confined to narrow pavements. It's a stupid allocation of roadspace.

Paul Campbell ● 371d

No He is always talking about roads. Well he was last year,not listened to him for ages. Thats not to say that the person who told me got it from him. Ive no idea but i may just ask when i see him again. I remember in the 80s when we got a letter about closing the square mile to cars from westminster council and what did we think. Not sure its exactly a square mile but thats what they listed it as. Its was from Regent street accross to charring cross road and down from oxford street to Shaftesbury Avenue. Basically soho

Julian Pavey ● 371d

C&A Customer always

Julian Pavey ● 371d

Was it Cristo Foufas who told you this? He was kicking off on Twitter about not being able to drive into central London on a Saturday night any more. It's a bit like the people who say the cycle lane is empty and the High Road has been destroyed who then tell us they never go there because they love McDonalds and TK Max in Greenford.

Paul Campbell ● 371d

"tourists have definitely returned" That is true and for this time of year, it is heaving with them. The other week when the weather was good on one day the changing of the guard at BP was so packed it caught the police off guard I'm told.I don't dispute numbers on main roads and within a certain time frame. I'm just told by someone that all these places off side roads in the west end are suffering, especially restaurantsof a late evening.I've not been in the West End myself for a while so I'm not one to back this up.One thing I do know, parts of the west end have improved, but many parts have taken a turn for the worst As to oxford street,well its a place to avoid these days. Not that i ever rated it in the past except for Selfridges. Hay ho,C&A was ok for certain goods

Julian Pavey ● 371d

It's interesting you should say that Julian.  I was in Central London on 10th February,  and it was absolutely heaving.  The tourists have definitely returned.  It was actually quite difficult to walk along Oxford Street towards Marble Arch.  I don't do it often,  and having to navigate through the crowds, it reminded me why.   

Nora Watkins ● 371d

Sorry to venture back onto the subject of this thread, but I've just come past the "piazza" and preparatory work is well under way. A work hut has been installed and plastic barriers and cones by the dozen are being positioned. Let's hope the end result is an improvement....

Bruce Hammal ● 371d

The last time we'd been in was probably before Covid but we regularly went to music venues leaving late at night and for years having been daytime commuters knew it became busy and avoided the cuts we might have taken in daytime just as we would elsewhere but have since pretty much avoided small venues.  As I said many many people mostly pedestrians and difficult to stop still on the pavement and impossible outside the tube which seemed to have reduced entrances/exits.  Although I do remember often choosing to walk further to less crowded tube stations.  Lots of London was built before cars!

Philippa Bond ● 371d

Phillipa’s fears that the piazza will turn this little part of Grove Park into a new Soho heaving with rickshaws and taxis is probably unwarranted. Nice way for LBH to waste more money nonetheless.

Russell Pearson ● 372d

Did you tour all the back roads after 9pm or make your way back after midnight ?And its ok if your in Chiswick,try getting back after midnight further afieldIts not just londoners that like to have a night out in central london.Believe me,i lived in Soho in the late 80s,early 90s and many travelled in by car for a good reason.

Julian Pavey ● 372d

As it happens we met up with some friends and their small child in Covent Garden this Saturday early evening and ate out on tables in the street.  We travelled by tube and they travelled by bus from where they were staying. It was absolutely heaving with people and there were lots of taxis and rickshaws.  I would imagine that deliveries would be expected to be between set hours and probably in the morning when it is less busy.  I just wouldn't bother with driving to Central London nowadays - and quite honestly we wouldn't have done for years.

Philippa Bond ● 372d

Everywhere is suffering Last saturday  afternoon/evening supposedly central london was virtually closed off to anyone in a car. Oxford dump street 2024 was pretty empty and resturants were not busy and some closing early im told. Especially in the side streets of covent garden No wonder shops are closing as its now reported that cental london,the capital of the UK is a no go zone unless you visit by bus or tube. Thats fine,but not good for buisness and not good in jan,feb,march time for sure. God knows what its going to be like in 2/5 years time.

Julian Pavey ● 372d

https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20053/transport/2181/south_chiswick_liveable_neighbourhoodDon't know if the LBH website is up-to-date but it currently says that the piazza is on hold awaiting TFL funding???

Tamara Mehta ● 372d

Let’s hope that our valued local businesses don’t suffer as much as I fear they will do.

Madeleine Hazard ● 372d

There was a leaflet through the door from Hounlow dated February 6 saying that work was due to commence today (Feb 19) with completion scheduled for The end of May. Also anyone who is a member of the Grove Park Group were messaged very recently with an update.Nothing seems to have happened yet!

Bruce Hammal ● 372d

Hi Jeremy. Out of interest, how did you know it was due to start today, please. I haven’t seen any notification.

Adrian Ellis ● 372d

My understanding was the work was due to start today. Has this not happened?

Jeremy Parkinson ● 372d

This was a lovely idea 12 years ago before Grove Park was annexed! It would now be a travesty for the businesses along the parade of shops.

Adrian Ellis ● 373d

I thought the illustrated plan looked quite nice, but its a long time coming isnt it.

Anna Kirkpatrick ● 373d

What?  Never heard of it.

V Killick ● 373d