Council Relents on Grove Park Restrictions 'Trap Day'
Full access to remain in place until the middle of October
The access restriction sign on Staveley Road. Picture: Google Streetview
Hounslow Council has made another alteration to the dates on which access restrictions will be suspended in the Grove Park area.
Following complaints from local councillors, there is no longer a single day during the ongoing suspension of restrictions when they will be restored. Originally, the council was intending to enforce restrictions for just one day (Friday 16 September) in a ten-week period.
All motorists are now able to use Staveley Road and Hartington Road in both directions until 12 October. Until that time, the A4 westbound will be reduced to one lane near the junction with Sutton Court Road and the council is suspending the Grove Park restrictions to reduce pressure on other residential roads in Chiswick which will be affected by displaced traffic.
The council originally planned to lift restrictions in the South Chiswick Liveable Area (SCLN) until 25 November except for two days between phases of work on the Cromwell Road Rail Bridge on the A4. There were dubbed ‘trap days’ by residents who pointed out that motorists were likely to be confused by the switch and drive through the area regardless. Earlier the council decided to restore enforcement from 13 October and 25 November despite continuing work requiring lane closures on the A4.
The council could have expected a boost in revenue from fines on these days but it has already been acknowledged by a Chief Officer responsible for transport that Penalty Charge Notices issued are ‘far higher than would be expected’ on Staveley Road and Hartington Road. In a report to the council he states, “Whilst the existing signage has been found by adjudicators to be compliant and adequate a review of the signage will look at what more can be done to reduce the number of non-exempt vehicles using these roads as that is the primary aim of the restrictions.”
The changed policy was announced on Twitter by Cllr Katherine Dunne who has cabinet responsibility for transport. Cllr Jack Emsley, who represents Chiswick Homefield ward and had lobbied for the changed said, “I’m glad that the council has listened to local councillors and removed the ‘trap days’ where fines could be issued for individual 24 hour periods. I’m concerned that this latest change was announced via social media before being communicated to local councillors, and have once again asked the council to keep residents and councillors updated with changes to these plans. It’s important communication improves so that disruption and confusion caused by the A4 roadworks can be kept to a minimum.”
It is understood that the council may have reconsidered the policy of restoring enforcement on Friday 16 September because there were concerns the extension of permit access for residents of Grove Park may not have been fully processed by that date.
The council is recommending that residents visit this page for the latest update to its policy relating to this closure.
At the time of writing the council says that, as well as the suspension of the SCLN restrictions up to 12 October, they will not be applied on four consecutive Saturdays beginning on Saturday 26 November. These changes will be reviewed on a regular basis and may be changed depending on the progress of the works on the A4.
The latest information is that restrictions will be suspended on the following days:
Saturday 6 August – Wednesday 12 October
Saturday 26 November
Saturday 3 December
Saturday 10 December
Saturday 17 December
Last week the council announced that it was extending the whitelist of parking zones in which residents will be exempt from SCLN restrictions. Residents and businesses in zones RV, CS and SOTG can apply for exemption from the Hartington Road restrictions and that exemption will come into effect on 22 August.
An amalgamation of the Hartington Road and Staveley Road permit schemes, to provide access to all residents and other existing exemption permit holders in the RV, CS, GP, SOTG and FR CPZ areas is expected to take full effect on 7 September.
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August 8, 2022