Forum Topic

Chiswick predictions for 2026

I am described by some on this forum as a reverse Nostradamus but some of my predictions on this forum have come true.Hoping to repeat what some people will claim is a ‘stopped-clock’ effect, these are mine for 2026.Labour will hold on to power in May in both Hounslow and Ealing with a significantly reduced vote share. It will increase its representation in Chiswick if Reform put up a candidate in local wards.Sainsbury’s will finally tell us what it intends to do with its Chiswick store.Nothing will happen with the Holly House development at Chiswick Roundabout.There will be no good news about Hammersmith Bridge , Turnham Green’s Piccadilly line service or step-free access for Chiswick stations.An announcement will be made about plans to restore some of the eastbound bus lanes in Chiswick.Please share your predictions and we can check back on this thread in 2027.

Francis Rowe ● 20d42 Comments

Sooner than I thought one of my predictions has proven wrong (on step free access) and one has proven right (Sainsbury's). I'm very pleased to have been incorrect on the first but we probably need to wait and see whether the second is good news.

Francis Rowe ● 3d

The problem with the 'too many cars' argument is that Chiswick High Road, including this stretch has seen a significant decline in this type of vehicle since these changes were introduced but a rise in delays and a decline in average speed. Some may have hoped that evaporation might have resulted but it isn't happening - we are getting displacement. The net result is that the bus fleet is getting slower and slower and, as people abandon the service, a proportion of them will be forced back into cars.

Francis Rowe ● 7d

You have totally missed the point of this particular discussion which was about changes that could benefit the flow of buses along the High Road. These issues are complex but it is you that seems unwilling to talk about solutions rather falling back on blaming your fellow citizens.

Andrew OSullivan ● 9d

Yes,  your prediction will come true. Applications for UK driving tests are significantly increasing! There's been a 43% rise in car theory test passes between 2019-20 and 2024-25, meaning more people are ready for practical tests.

Steve Taylor ● 9d

I predict that millions of people will carry on driving their cars and enjoying it - especially those with gas guzzling full-fat petrol engines. Meanwhile a teeny-weeny number of sour faced grumps will carry on moaning about it.

Davy Jones ● 9d

>One point I'd like to add is that since the introduction of the bus gate, the quicker way to get to North Chiswick when approaching from the west of London is via the North Circular and Gunnersbury Lane, at least at busier times. By car?

Paul James ● 9d

> that doesn't just create a different and possibly worse issue elsewhere.Too many cars, too much driving, too many people not willing to talk about societal alternatives to car use.

Paul James ● 9d

Good to see a bit of civility return to this discussion which, as a consequence, seems to have become more interesting (at least to someone who has driven, ridden or walked by this junction over a thousand times). One point I'd like to add is that since the introduction of the bus gate, the quicker way to get to North Chiswick when approaching from the west of London is via the North Circular and Gunnersbury Lane, at least at busier times. If I ignore my SatNav I'll end up sitting in a long queue looking longingly at what used to be the left turn filter lane until I get past the bus gate before I can reach Acton Lane. I'd agree that these queues are more likely to be a consequence of changed phasings than the bus gate. The traffic back up Acton Lane and South Parade is better than it was and you seem to have longer crossing CHR from the Acton Lane junction than you used to.

Andrew OSullivan ● 9d

If you look at the photo below the left turn lane was signed 'except buses' in 2019. On leaving the bus lane under the old configuration, a bus would only be delayed if there were an exceptionally large number of vehicles turning left and that still could happen (although is less likely) with the bus gate. The actual gain to buses looks very marginal to me but, there must be data on this which tells the full story. It maybe that the bus gate actually has little to do with the perma-queue that has developed over the last few years going eastbound on this section of the High Road. When Fishers Lane closed initially traffic was regularly tailing back as far as the eastern end of South Parade from the Acton Lane junction. It looks like the phase was extended here to allow this to clear but this has reduced the flow on the High Road. This might be by design with the traffic planners preferring to the queue to form on the wider section of the road west of Acton Lane rather than the pinchpoints in the centre of Chiswick. This allows continued progress for emergency service vehicles and, for an example a driver who needs to make their way from Windsor to Pall Mall. If this is correct, taking out the bus lane won't actually solve the rat-running problem. You are right that people 'should' stick to the A315 and the A4 but the reality is that SatNavs and local knowledge means that they can avoid sitting in a queue for a few minutes and they will take that opportunity. We can all disapprove of this but I don't see a robust way of tackling the problem that doesn't just create a different and possibly worse issue elsewhere.

Francis Rowe ● 14d

In the previous layout, the bus lane ended about 100m before the junction.  A bus can't leapfrog a queue if there is already a queue of cars at the junction waiting for the lights to change.I haven't checked the signal timing but I'm guessing the lights at the bus gate go red before the lights at the junction.  This would allow the junction to clear, so a bus at the bus gate will always be front of the queue - which it wouldn't be with the previous free-for-all.I checked streetview and previously the left turn lane just said 'left turn'.  It was only after the bus gate that the signage was changed to say 'except buses'.  Bus gate or not, there will still be lights at the junction of CHR and Acton Lane/Sutton Lane N and in total, 4 sets of lights between there and Oxford Rd N. There are 0 lights between Sutton Lane N and Oxford Rd N along Wellesley Rd.  So even without a bus gate, there is a clear incentive to rat-run along Wellesley Rd to avoid the lights on CHR as a route to and from Chiswick roundabout.Hounslow did propose traffic restrictions further east along Wellesley Rd as one of the options in the original consultation back in 2016 however the restrictions at the junctions of the S Circular were preferred by residents by a considerable margin.It was always recognised this could still mean rat-running along the eastern section of Wellesley Rd but it is impossible to predict with certainty what will actually happen hence a decision of "let's see".  As things have happened, there is more traffic along Wellesley Rd than there needs to be, but less than there used to be.The point of a Wellesley Rd LTN would be to enforce the point that Wellesley Rd isn't a bypass for 4 traffic lights on CHR. So for a vehicle coming off at Chiswick roundabout and heading east, they stay on CHR, they don't duck down Oxford Rd N and use Wellesley Rd to avoid the lights at Gunnersbury and Acton Lane.  Same for vehicles heading west using Wellesley Rd/Oxford Rd N to avoid the lights at Gunnersbury and elsewhere along CHR.The point is that vehicles should stay on the A315  (or use the A4).  Not use Wellesley Rd to bypass 700m of the A315 which is what happens at the moment.

Michael Robinson ● 15d

Thank you for your considered reply. It would be interesting to see some actual data on the gains delivered by the bus gate. Like the Hounslow transport team, I am not that convinced of its value (an opinion which admittedly is based on a number of observations sat drinking coffee outside the Italians). The previous configuration did allow buses to leapfrog the queues as the end of the bus lane went straight into the left filter lane which buses were allowed to use to go straight ahead. The bus gate just achieves the same effect in a more formalised way.Of course, as you will point out, this is only my observation but as I said at the start, it would be interesting to see data and, you would presume, the Hounslow staff have done so.On the Wellesley Road LTN, it would be surprising if there was a viable camera enforced solution to the problem that this wasn't the council's first option. It is hard to see how it could be achieved without adding to the junction stress at CHR/Acton Lane that you allude to and further slowing down eastbound buses.

Francis Rowe ● 15d

Laila Cunningham for Mayor. She’ll get London motorised  traffic moving again and prosecute irresponsible cyclists and e-bike riders. She’ll get buses moving and get rid of LTNs and unused cycle lanes.  She’ll stop shoplifting and anti social behaviour and reduce knife crime and crime against women and girls. She’ll do everything the current inarticulate mayor has failed to address over almost 10 years. 

Steve Taylor ● 15d

I've already given a reason why the Hounslow conclusions might change.  Officers in a council transport team are more generalists than specialists.  They rely on specialist expertise from TfL or consultants.  TfL are responsible for traffic modelling analysis and controlling signal timings. Hounslow will be reliant on TfL for this analysis and this analysis was not done for the Hounslow proposals back in 2023.Since then, if TfL concluded that removal of the bus gate meant overall bus timings would worsen because buses would be stuck in a queue of general traffic rather than getting to the front of the queue at the bus gate, then the bus gate will stay, won't it?Trying to mitigate this by increasing E-W green time at Acton Lane would mean reducing N-S green time at the same junction which would lengthen queuing times on Sutton Lane N and mean more drivers taking alternative routes, not less.I am very confident that a Wellesley Rd LTN will be evaluated in 26/27,Similarly, Hounslow has a long list of bus route priority schemes.  There is one for Heston Rd which has just finished a consultation.  There will be similar prioritisation of these schemes as there will be for LTNs.  The schemes with the most benefits for the least cost will be top of the list for progressing.

Michael Robinson ● 15d

Although the conclusions reached by Hounslow's transport team were made a few years ago, nothing has really changed that much in the intervening period so, unless you can suggest reasons otherwise, the more likely position is that their report remains valid.You are misunderstanding the concerns of residents of the area about the impact of the bus gate. There may have been more traffic on Wellesely Road when it provided access to the South Circular but it is the roads between CHR and Wellesley Road that now have the problem. SatNavs and local knowledge has led to lots of drivers leaving the queue back from the Acton Lane junction and cutting down these roads.The council officers need to take into account quality of life issues for local people but TfL don't. It would of course be possible to reintroduce the bus lanes and keep the bus gate but that currently isn't on the table, presumably because Hounslow's transport team believe the loss of parking revenue and a mature tree would be too high a price to pay if there was no quid pro quo.The Mayor remains under pressure to do something about buses and for personal reasons he will not want his legacy to be a serious decline in the service. 190 metres extra bus lane on CHR is not alot but there are simply no quick wins for him to get to the targeted increase in the priority network and any increase will have to be made up of marginal gains like this. There are just over two years since the next Mayoral election so Sir Sadiq needs to act now turnaround bus performance. That's why I think we will hear something on this, this year. The bus gate may or may not be part of any deal but if TfL do nothing, then the Mayor's opponents will hit him hard over his failure on buses, the public transport type most used by London voters.

Francis Rowe ● 15d

Francis, you are well known for inventing things to fit your personal prejudices and this post is yet another example.I am sorry to disappoint you that pointing out your bullsh*t is an amusing diversion for me, not rage-inducing in the slightest.You are quoting from a document that is now over 2.5 years old.  Over this period Hounslow officers have had been in discussions with TfL who are the experts when it comes to signal timings and traffic modelling.  You can't assume that the views of Hounslow officers 3 years ago are the same as now, given these discussions. Particularly given there is always turnaround in staff, and the Hounslow head of transport in 2023 is no longer there because of a promotion to a role in another borough.On the point about bus timings, it would be interesting if there were measures to reallocate more road space away from general traffic to bus lanes along CHR AND the Acton Lane bus gate stays.  That would certainly flush out the car brains who try to use bus timings as a smokescreen to whinge about cycle lanes but in reality, they hate bus lanes and bus gates too because they make it more difficult to drive.On the Wellesley Rd LTN, complaints from residents about too much traffic need to be balanced by the fact there is still far less traffic on Wellesley Rd than there used to be when there was access to the S Circular.  A cynic might think that some of these complaints could be motivated because the bus gate makes it more difficult for them to drive rather than the impact upon traffic volumes.I am predicting that in 26/27 FY Hounslow will be re-evaluating LTNs and Wellesley Rd will be included in this analysis.  I can't predict the outcome and where Wellesley Rd will be prioritised vs. other areas given limited budgets.Also, the plans referencing removal of bus lanes also contained a suite of measures for changes to C9 cycle lane on CHR including replacement of wands with kerbing.  These are still on the table although Tfl priorities are building new lanes (extending C9 through Brentford town centre) rather than spending money on changing existing lanes.

Michael Robinson ● 16d

They'll probably refuse to believe that there were asylum seekers housed in Chiswick no matter how many people tell them there were. A few years back there was a property being used by drug dealers close to where refugees were being housed. A friend was being harassed by someone associated with the drug den when a man of Asian appearance intervened on her behalf. He then went into the property used for asylum seekers. She doesn't know what his status was but says that, in all the time they were there, there was zero problem with their presence.

Francis Rowe ● 16d

It is slightly surprising to see Michael go to Def Con 2 over what I don't think I am wrong in thinking was a reasonably uncontentious post about bus lanes. He usually has to be contradicted at least four or five times before he gets to that puce-faced, vein-in-forehead throbbing level of rage. His season of ill-will to all men may last 12 months but it is still out of character. If it does reflect other strains in his life, perhaps the response on our part should be more sympathetic.I was broadly aware of the funding situation for the bus lane plan which is why said an announcement would be made rather than any actual physical changes for this year.The reason I thought this would happen is that TfL is starting to recognise that the bus service is entering a vicious cycle of decline. Passenger numbers are down and it has confirmed that his creates a financial imperative to cut services. TfL has also stated that an important reason for falling passenger numbers is slower bus speeds. Rush hour speeds are often below walking pace. Buses are used for more passenger journeys in London each day than all other forms of public transport and cycling combined so this decline has to be addressed.The council's officers did analyse the issue of whether removing the bus gate could be offset by the restoration of bus lanes. Their report states:  “This could be expected to improve journey times for buses, since the lanes provide additional space particularly on approach to traffic signals. It is noted again that the bus gate at Acton Lane was introduced in lieu of bus lanes allowed within the original scheme and it is the view of Officers that the additional priority afforded to buses by these lanes would allow for the removal of the bus gate.”As for whether an LTN south of Chiswick High Road would be a viable solution for the problems currently being experienced by residents of that area, I think most of us would assume that if this was workable it would have been the council's first option. It has money set aside for more ANPR cameras and it would bring in much needed extra revenues.The reasons they apparently have concluded it is unworkable seem very obvious. Diverting traffic flows down Town Hall Avenue and the already stressed Sutton Lane North would be a very bad idea aesthetically and practically. I presume there would also be zero support for the idea within the area but it would be interesting to hear the views of people who actually live there.

Francis Rowe ● 16d

Keith, as others have said, there have been accommodations in Chiswick for those seeking asylum.Part of the remit for those offering assistance is to keep these locations as private as possible given the current political climate and threats (and worse) these people have suffered.I know this because we once hosted a Christmas event for a group and we worked with a local charity to make this happen. Part of that was the logistics of getting them from one place to another. And that included security.

David Lesniak ● 16d

Go on Julian, you can at least tell us if it's a prediction about traffic on TGT, or something to do with businesses on TGT (whether now or in the future) or soemthing else.

Andrew Jones ● 17d

I have a 2026 prediction for Chiswick, but I can't say, as it would be wrong to post the predictionSorry, but if it comes to fruition, I will bump it up on hereClue.TGT, ok, not much of a clue, but it's all you're getting

Julian Pavey ● 17d

Blah blah blah

Davy Jones ● 17d

Cllr Biddolph is incorrect claiming that removal of the bus gate was "agreed" by Hounslow cabinet.As stated in the documents on the web page linked by Cllr Biddolph, this approval was "subject to Cabinet approval for a separate TMO." The TMO [Traffic Management Order] hasn't happened so nothing has been agreed.  Even before a TMO was created, proposals would need to go through a consultation and this obviously hasn't happened either.The September 2023 cabinet papers contained a proposal which "will be subject to further business case and value for money considerations. As such, they will require a further approval,which will be sought in due course."In this case "in due course" means it is now coming up for 2.5 years later and there is no sign of this happening.  The plan is not part of the LIP projects being funded by TfL for the 26/27 financial year .Could it be that TfL assessment of the Hounslow proposal for reconfiguration of the lanes and removal of the bus gate was that it wouldn't improve bus journey times and would make them worse?  It wasn't as if Hounslow did traffic modelling or similar analysis on the impact.Of course Cllr Biddolph "loathes" everything that she thinks makes driving more difficult.  Could she provide an explanation why a bus gate that prioritises buses makes bus journey times worse?

Michael Robinson ● 17d

The bus gate on Chiswick High Road approaching Acton Lane is due to be removed, as agreed by Hounslow's cabinet in September 2023.  I have followed up often, including recently, on this decision because of repeated and numerous representations for the bus gate to be removed, and was assured that the decision to remove it still stands.  The sticking point, I was told, is the budget: because it was installed by TfL, Hounslow council is insisting that TfL must pay for its removal.  Are you saying that TfL has vetoed its removal by refusing to pay for its removal?  If so, that is not the most recent information I have been given by the council's transport/traffic team.  If TfL has refused to pay, I will ask for that information in writing. This bus gate is loathed for the additional congestion it causes generally, and specifically in this spot, and the impact of that on bus journey times, and I will continue to support those who want it to be removed and to campaign for its removal. Cabinet minutes: https://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=571&MId=12912&Ver=4

Joanna Biddolph ● 17d

Still no evidence then,only claims.

Keith Iddon ● 17d

Like you Keith, I didn't believe Chiswick housed asylum seekers.I think Felicity's assertion that this is so was to create the impression that Chiswickians in general had no objections to the idea. Maybe they have.On the subject of New year predictions, whatever happened to our cycling devotee Paul Campbell?He never posted last year, neither on the virtues of his pet  subject or anything else.If he did in fact make such a prediction to stop pestering  the forum with his endless virtues of cycling he succeeded, and is to be congratulated.

Denis I. Fox ● 17d

More than one location in Chiswick has been used to house asylum seekers over recent years although I don't think there are any currently. As Felicity told you, as the number of people being accommodated falls so does the number of venues. Those living in the vicinity of the accommodation were aware and quite relaxed that this was happening. Many offered support and welcome particularly to young families required to live together in a single room.

Mark Evans ● 17d

I very much doubt there is any asylum accomodation in Chiswick.There are several places in the Hounslow borough,but I doubt very much any are in the most expensive part of it.I am quite willing to accept that I am wrong,but making claims that there are is not evidence.

Keith Iddon ● 17d

Yes, I remember last years, also looked up Nostradamus predictions for 2025, one was wrong as he stated Putin would be assassinated, if it wasa genuine report, never sure with all the fake news etc.

Janice Evans ● 17d

I believe you have to directly swear at someone, so no.

Janice Evans ● 17d

"I think you are just a bullshitter"Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this grounds for being banned from the forum?

David Lesniak ● 17d

I'm sorry if I have given you the impression that I respect you Francis. I really don't. I think you are just a bullshitter.While traffic along the eastern section of Wellesley Rd is less than it was pre-C9, if residents think that there is still too much traffic, then the obvious solution is to extend a Low Traffic Neighbourhood to the rest of Wellesley Rd given the residents at the western end of Wellesley Rd already benefit from the LTN there.Judiciously placed bus gates/ANPR/bollards would ensure that vehicles use Wellesley Rd for access rather than using Wellesley Rd to bypass a section of Chiswick High Rd.  Consideration of such plans were part of the original C9 funding but the money disappeared with Covid. It isn't much of a prediction to say this may be looked at given funding for low traffic neighbourhood evaluation in the borough has been provided to Hounslow for the 26/27 financial year.As I said, TfL have vetoed removal of the Acton Lane bus gate but aspects of the Hounslow plans may still go ahead including reconfiguration of the junction at Heathfield Terrace, replacement of cycle lane wands withe kerbing, a cycle crossing to the Fishers Lane route.  If these do proceed, likely 27/28 funding cycle. Hounslow make it easy to do predictions given budgets and projects for FY 26/27 are already fixed and officers will answer questions about them.

Michael Robinson ● 17d

I was the OP on that and both my predictions were wrong. Labour did not mention Hammersmith Bridge in its manifesto and Sainsbury's made no move to develop its Chiswick site. Francis may have timed his prediction for this year on the latter better than I did.

Mark Evans ● 17d

There was a thread in Jan 2024 re Chiswick predictions 2024

Paul Jennings ● 17d

I missed the opportunity to predict that Michael would start the year by being gratuitously rude to his fellow posters and wouldn’t have made a New Year Resolution to be pleasant.I should have also predicted that Felicity would decisively debunk ill-informed nonsense.Michael is right about the bus lanes I was referring to. It is not clear whether he believes that a few hundred metres is too short a length to be bothered with but short hop bus journey times between Chiswick and Hammersmith could be significantly reduced if they were to be reinstated.What I’d been told is that Hounslow remains committed to this plan as it is actually taking seriously concerns of residents badly affected by displaced traffic from the Acton Lane bus gate south of the High Road. The quid pro quo for getting rid of it would be these bus lanes. I hadn’t seen anywhere else that TfL had given a unambiguous thumbs down to this proposal but, even if they had, the latest data on bus speeds and its own targets on increasing the bus lane network is pushing it towards accepting the council’s proposals.On Janice's question - I don't recall a thread like this from 2025 and if there was one, I'm sure all my predictions were 100% accurate :).

Francis Rowe ● 17d

Felicity, as ever, thank you for being the steady voice of reason around here. You're absolutely right, there were plenty of refugees in Chiswick prior to the current political blathering. Families, professionals, children, infants. As for predictions, Michael will continue to be miserable. His sophomoric mean girl barbs will remain the same.

David Lesniak ● 18d

Tough. If you don’t like what I post, don’t read it.You can always avoid this forum and read the rage bait for geriatrics on Brentford TV Facebook group.

Michael Robinson ● 18d

I can't comment on the football and I don't think it is likely that people would actively campaign for asylum seeker hostels to be opened given that the number is being reduced across the country. You seem to be unaware that there were a number of locations in Chiswick at which refugees were housed and local people had zero problem with this because they weren't falling for the scaremongering spread on social media.

Felicity Caborn ● 18d

England will win the World Cup and W4 residents will campaign to have a couple of asylum seeker hostels opened in Chiswick,just to get their fair share and to do their bit for these unfortunates.Of course,neither of these things will happen.

Keith Iddon ● 19d

I think the devastating event in Switzerland may have curtailed peoples' response to New Year predictions.However, here's wishing all a HNY, and whilst I'm on line here's two predictions:The police station will still be closed and untouched this time next year. What happened to the new retirement home which was going to be built?Secondly, England to win the Grand Slam (Rugby 6 Nations).I say this every year, and according to the law of averages...

Denis I. Fox ● 19d

What a nasty response Michael ...and at the start of a New Year.I saw this thread and was looking forward to reading some amusing predictions ... but NO! You've dug in.This was such a delightful Forum 15-20 years ago.

Jim Lawes ● 19d

"An announcement will be made about plans to restore some of the eastbound bus lanes in Chiswick."A bit of a clarification about this Francis.  When you say "restore", are you referring to the couple of hundred metres of discontinuous bus lane there used to be between Chiswick Lane and Goldhawk Rd? These were the only eastbound bus lanes that existed on CHR prior to C9. There were no eastbound bus lanes for the entire section of CHR between Turnham Green Terrace and Acton Lane.The plans produced by Hounslow in September 2023 for reconfiguration of lanes on CHR between Heathfield Terrace/Acton Lane were vetoed by TfL some time ago because their conclusion was that the existing bus gate at Acton Lane was more effective and shouldn't be changed.  These plans were all "subject to, blah, blah, blah..." so you won't get an announcement that the "subject to" hasn't happened.My prediction for 2026 is that you will still continue to make predictions based on your prejudices without bothering yourself with facts.

Michael Robinson ● 20d

Did you check back in last years.

Janice Evans ● 20d