Scrutiny Committee Votes Against Burlington Lane Proposal
The Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting. Picture: Jack Emsley
April 13, 2023
A cross-party committee of councillors has voted against a proposal by Hounslow Council for the reopening of access from the A316 to Burlington Lane.
The change was proposed as a way of dealing of complaints from residents of the Grove Park area that the restrictions imposed over the last two years had been causing problems including with deliveries and difficulties for carers.
A new configuration was put forward, introduced by a Chief Officer Decision (COD) in which access to Grove Park from Burlington Lane would be restored and school street restrictions would be put in place instead.
The plan was discussed this Tuesday evening (11 April) by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which comprises of nine councillors, seven from Labour and two from the Conservatives.
The councillors were told of objections to the proposal from local resident groups and ward councillors.
Speaking against the proposal, Conservative Councillor for Chiswick Homefields, John Todd, said that the proposal would “open the door to unfettered traffic,” citing the council’s own analysis which showed its plan could increase congestion by up to 160% on the road. He called for a rethink alongside other Grove Park schemes, and for the replacement of the council’s current “piecemeal” measures with a single scheme which allows for access only for drivers registered in the borough, as well as their visitors, similar to that implemented in Hammersmith and Fulham.
Labour councillor for Chiswick Riverside, Amy Croft, said that the council had “failed to properly communicate the scheme” and that it had to “own up to that.”
When it was put a vote, eight councillors were opposed with just one abstention.
The COD was referred to the committee by Cllr Katherine Dunne, the cabinet member with responsibility for transport, in what observers have described as an unusual move. Normally such decisions will be discussed first by the cabinet before being given over to the scrutiny committee.
The vote by the committee is only advisory and the cabinet, which will meet to discuss the issue next Tuesday (18 April) can still proceed with the reopening. The meeting did see a vote in favour of the other decision being considered, the proposal to issue a permanent Traffic Management Order for the Staveley Road access restrictions which would mean the measure would no longer be subject to periodic review.
Burlington Lane is currently blocked off from the A316. Picture: Google Streetview
“It was always clear that reopening Burlington Lane whilst maintaining every other Grove Park traffic scheme would simply create more problems for local residents,” said Peter Thompson, councillor for Chiswick Riverside and leader of Conservative group. “I’m glad the committee rejected this daft proposal, and hope the cabinet will now listen to the councillors from both parties who have rejected this plan. It’s time to stop implementing piecemeal traffic schemes in Grove Park and create a single scheme which works for residents, local businesses and their visitors.”
“I’m glad the cross-party Overview and Scrutiny Committee rejected Cllr Dunne’s proposal to reopen Burlington Lane to over 8,000 cars a day,” said Jack Emsley, Conservative Councillor for Chiswick Homefields. “The council has to recognise that this can’t be a binary choice between a hard closure and total, unfettered access to the road. It now needs to rethink the way that it has implemented schemes in Grove Park and work with us to create new proposals to stop cut-throughs whilst easing access for residents and their visitors across the area as a whole.”
Cllr Katherine Dunne, Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council said, "Data shows that the Staveley Road and Burlington Lane experimental traffic orders have helped to reduce traffic in Grove Park, in line with the objectives of the South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood scheme.
"Proposals to amend the scheme on Burlington Lane whilst retaining the Staveley Road restriction were developed in response to resident feedback during the public consultation.
"These were published as a Chief Officer Decision referring them to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of a decision being taken by Cabinet.
"This process has worked well, with the committee giving a clear set of recommendations that will be considered by Cabinet on 18th April."
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