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Update on Grove Park traffic restrictions

The fools at Hounslow Council have, apparently, seen sense.From The Chiswick Calendar Newsletter:Grove Park traffic restrictions - The exception to the exemption ditched Last week we reported that during the period of roadworks which have now started on the A4, the restrictions to traffic entering Grove Park and Strand on the Green would be dropped in order to try and prevent gridlock.We pointed out that the restrictions would be lifted from Friday 5 August until Wednesday 12 October but with one important exception. Residents and their visitors would have to remember that normal restrictions would be in place on Friday 16 September. That one day would be the exception to the exemption.LB Hounslow has now admitted that is not a very sensible way to manage it. Responding to our enquiry they told us:'After reviewing the practicalities of activating and deactivating the enforcement cameras within a 24hr period, the Council made the decision to suspend enforcement on the 16th of September.'But they also said:'The duration and nature of this measure will be reviewed on a regular basis throughout the duration of the works, and we will reinstate the restrictions earlier than planned, if possible. Any changes will be communicated at the earliest opportunity.'So watch this space. The roadworks continue until December. See the updated version of the A4 roadworks timetable and knock on effect to Grove Park and Strand on the Green on The Chiswick Calendar website.

Leslie Wilson ● 1504d4 Comments ● 1504d

Fire Breaks

Informed by a Relative, the council were out early this morning cutting Fire  breaks in parks, greens, and common land as a safety measure for residential property in the Feltham area.So if you back or front onto a park or common land, make sure there’s been a fire break mowed wide enough to help save your property in the event of a grass fire.I don’t know who you would contact about theses fire breaks, suppose the main Council’s switch board If you have a BBQ powered by a gas bottle, I don’t know the safety advice about them being outside in this heat, But it sounds like it could be dangerous to leave them in the hot sun.

Bernard Allen ● 1505d6 Comments ● 1504d

Scrap Metal

Good morning, any local Scrap Metal collectors that can be recommended please?

Tracey Wessels ● 1505d2 Comments ● 1504d

Contacting Virgin Media

Been trying for a week to contact virgin media to close account. Waiting hours on phone.  Online callback requested, tweets posted. Impossible. Any suggestions. ?

Sean Wales ● 1508d9 Comments ● 1504d

Grove Park restrictions

Are Hartington Road and Stavely Road now open for unrestrictive access from the A316 please?

Margot Crowther ● 1507d18 Comments ● 1505d

Not so Happy Place

Apparently thieves targeted the stalls overnight on Friday after set-up and before the festival started, and got away with thousands of pounds worth of stock. Public liability apparently  doesn’t cover it and it would seem the festival has said it can’t cover it either. People who were selling there were told it would be safe because there was was 24 hour security (two guards at perimeter fence).

Martha Roberts ● 1505d1 Comments ● 1505d

Wisteria gardener

Any recommendations for someone to cut back wisteria on front of house? Thx

Robert Duncan ● 1508d3 Comments ● 1505d

French polisher

Anyone know someone local.Thanks .

John Kennedy ● 1506d3 Comments ● 1505d

Temples of Industry exhibition at Gunnersbury

Anyone remember the great Phil Pardoe's Golden Mile exhibition in the 1980s. The best that Gunnersbury has ever done and I still have the excellent book and postcards that were produced. Looking forward to this one - it has a lot to live up to though. I wonder if it will include the Lucozade sign?

Charlotte Kasner ● 1508d2 Comments ● 1506d

Is the leak true

Believed to have been leaked to harry cole of the sun by someone in trust teamWe will seeChief whipIDS                 BackEducationKemi Badenoch       promotedHome secretarySuella Braverman    promotedParty Chairman      demotedPriti Patel Culture, Media and Sport    promotedPenny Mordaunt Foreign secJames Cleverly              promotedChancelor                   promotedKwasi KwartengThats all i believe

Julian Pavey ● 1509d11 Comments ● 1506d

Loud music Grove Park

Not sure where it’s coming from but there’s loud music from a party I think that can be heard from a distance, any ideas where it’s coming from?  I hope it’s quietens down soon.

Phil Spivey ● 1507d3 Comments ● 1506d

RIP Alastair Little

Memorable Meals and Happy Times

Philippa Bond ● 1508d1 Comments ● 1507d

The fans to sing "you don't know what you’re doing" – As TfL/LBH/Network Rail fail to plan!

It is often said that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  This certainly seems to be the case regarding TfL/LBH and Network Rail, however the direct impact will fall firmly on the residents of Chiswick and those travelling through trying to watch some sport at Brentford Community Stadium.It does not take much to look at the football and rugby schedules for Brentford Community Stadium and to look at Network Rail and TfL’s schedule of rail and tube works and closures to work out the potential impact on getting to the Stadium by train or tube. However, coupled with TfL’s and LBHs decision to start the Bridge works on the A4 in August and to start further temporary works in September on C9 in Chiswick real questions start to arise.  TfL have already issued warnings and admitted that bus journeys will be badly impacted, as a resident one must ask could they get any worse, but that appears to be the plan.There are now plenty of local media reports of nice words about all parties talking with each other and constantly monitoring and potentially changing approach depending on circumstances.  Regarding the match against Manchester United on 13 August, Network Rail have said sorry for closing Brentford and Kew Bridge stations, Brentford have said it’s frustrating, but no one has really understood what the impact will be on the bus replacement service between Barnes and Feltham.  Given TfLs expectations and advice above it will be awful.But on further examination of schedules over September one must wonder whether any of this has been thought through at all.  For example, are all parties aware that on 3 September, when Brentford play Leeds, parts of the district line are closed (Turnham Green to Ealing) and the Piccadilly line is closed from Hammersmith out to Heathrow, substantially reducing capacity. The next weekend 10 September, London Irish play Worcester, and Feltham to Barnes will be a bus service only again, the next weekend Sunday 18 September, Brentford play Arsenal and the London Overground from Willesden Junction to Richmond is out, an important route option if coming round from Arsenal.So, with the A4 reduced to one lane westbound during this period, and the likely impact on all surrounding streets getting to Brentford Community Stadium will need more than careful planning.  But there is a way out for TfL, LBH and Network Rail to partially remedy the situation in advance before their reputations sink further, and that is to not proceed with the C9 works in September, knowing the negative impact on bus times. If they plan to continue, it really does say it all, and TfL/LBH and Network Rail will all be knowingly planning to fail the residents of Chiswick, all those wanting to go to the Community Stadium, and all those travelling through the area.For the Community stadium it will likely mean it will have to be renamed once again, maybe: The Unreachable Community Stadium or for those of us with an affinity for the Bees maybe: The “Not even a bus stop in Hounslow” Community Stadium!

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1508d11 Comments ● 1507d

Pret

The first Pret opened in Victoria Street, SW1 n 1986.

Kevin Tanner ● 1513d16 Comments ● 1508d

Major Openreach outage in West London

If you are struggling to get online, this may be the cause. Apparently target is for it to be fixed by 11am 4th August.

Adam ONeill ● 1510d3 Comments ● 1508d

Alas poor Boris!

See that Bozo has complained he was 'stitched up' and is blaming all and sundry for his fall from grace. Saw one woman at the Tory hustings blaming Sunak for this - what I don't understand is why he just doesn't tell it like it is - that Bozo brought it all on himself, it wasn't Sunak, the 'Red Wall' M.Ps, Cummings or anyone else, just his own overweening arrogance and sense of entitlement.  Infamy, infamy - they've all got it in for me! With rights go responsibilities.......

Vanessa Smith ● 1511d29 Comments ● 1508d

Excellent news on Grove Park Traffic Exemptions

Our local councillors deserve a very big pat on the back for their efforts in persuading Hounslow Council to extend the exemptions for residents throughout the area. It was ridiculous that this wasn't done from the outset and caused a huge amount of misery for people who happened to live on the wrong road.The scheme will not be without its downside in terms of deliveries and hassle for visitors but these are now probably outweighed by the benefit of quieter streets in the area. I appreciate that the traffic no longer going through Grove Park may now be going past someone else's home but in most cases this is making busy roads busier rather than fundamentally transforming an area.

Diane Brown ● 1509d14 Comments ● 1508d

Biological/biomedical science work experience

My 17 year old daughter is studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A level. She is currently looking for unpaid work experience/a volunteering opportunity within the fields of biological and biomedical science – for example, lab work or working in industry.If you are able to help or know someone who can, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Any/all suggestions would be gratefully received.

Michelle F ● 1509d1 Comments ● 1509d

Getting a wheelchair footplate repaired

I have a good, comfortable wheelchair but one foot plate has broken off and before I can find it a new home I need to get the footplate fixed.  The main suppliers and providers are not interested- buy a new one was one response.Anyone got any suggestions as to where or to whom I can go?

Elizabeth Ross ● 1510d7 Comments ● 1509d

The Full Horror of A4 Restrictions and Closure for Chiswick and all West London

Over the last week articles and comments are appearing as to the works required to repair on the A4.  The full impact is only now dawning on Chiswick and west London residents.  Yet some details are unclear and raise many more questions that need answers.  Works start in just over a week.   We all know the impact will be huge across Chiswick, Kew and surrounds. Expectations are of back-ups all the way into central London along the A4 corridor, with only a single lane due to be operational westbound at the Cromwell Road Railway Bridge, and only two lanes eastbound also reducing flow into London.  It will not be until at least October Half Term that some daily closures may ease.  TfL are telling people in central London to use the A40 and M40 to go west.Many operational questions will need answers but TfL and LBH have now clearly worked out the full horror about what these closures will mean.  That has become clear with a decision by TfL and LBH to announce the suspension of restrictions in Grove Park and potentially turn it into a car park. This is suspicious and gives the game away but also looks poorly thought through.  It also raises more important questions as to the competence and motives of both organisations.At one level it looks like TfL realising that the impending gridlock for all A roads from Mortlake, Sheen, Richmond, Kew in the south through to Hammersmith, Fulham, Barons Court, Earls Court, Kensington, and Shepherds Bush in the west can be a little alleviated at the expense of residents in Grove Park.  In addition, they probably also worked out that they and LBH could not be seen to profit from the further misery of accumulating fines on Hartington and Staveley Roads.Then there are the questions of timing, motives, and consequential effects, such as: when was it determined that there was a structural issue with the Bridge?  Has the issue been known for some time?  Are the works exploratory, or like Hammersmith Bridge and the Hammersmith flyover is this a situation where in September, London will be informed that on further inspection, we are going to have to close this section of road, and the Overground and Tube below?  Trust in TfL will continue to hit new lows for residents across west London.  For LBH this is a disaster.   They look completely caught out.  Just when they were hoping to repair the relationship with Chiswick, they are going to subject them to gridlock. The only good that may come out is that LBH may finally realise that they need to work with the majority of Chiswick residents through the Residents groups and Councillors, rather than the small niche campaign groups going forward.  Those that are going to suffer the most are those that have so far been negatively impacted by the current Streetspace schemes.  Carers will take even longer to reach their patients, and bus users will be stuck on Chiswick High Road going nowhere.  Residents of Burlington Lane will suffer again, as the inequity of the Staveley Rd barrier diverts all traffic down their road.  If LBH can suspend and abandon a scheme at the drop of TfLs hat, they can clearly start to work with residents.  With the impending gridlock to come, LBH will owe Chiswick much and LBH positively could use the time with a new approach, by abandoning the current Streetspace schemes and plans for future phases and instead work with the majority of residents to put in schemes that the majority want. 

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1516d43 Comments ● 1509d