Forum Topic

Public banned from Chiswick Business Park

Doing our regular walking circuit this afternoon, there was a security guard stopping members of the public walking through the landscaped Business Park. So despite most of the people employed there working from home, the owners had still decided to stop 'outsiders' infecting 'their' open space. For of course it is 'their space' as it's all actually private land, though it would be interesting to know what the original planning agreement said about maintaining public access. This privatisation of public spaces is an increasing problem, as shopping malls replace High Roads and new housing developments replace public streets.

Peter Evans ● 2415d18 Comments

This is bad news. We were there for a walk a few days ago. A quiet oasis and space to distance yourself from others. I might try tweeting the CEO...

Gordon McDonald ● 2415d

Are the 70 and 440 buses still running into CBP or have they closed access to them too?

Adam ONeill ● 2415d

That was my walk as it helped me a lot

Jon morris ● 2415d

TfL has the following alert:"CHISWICK BUSINESS PARK, W4: Routes 70 and 440 are diverted until Thursday 30 April due to a closure of Chiswick Business Park. Route 70 towards Chiswick Business Park is diverted via Roslin Road and Sterling Road - missing the stops from Roslin Road to Colville Road, and also missing the stop at Chiswick Business Park. Route 440 is diverted in both directions via Chiswick High Road and Acton Lane - missing the stops at Chiswick Business Park."So neither the 70 or the 440 buses are allowed into the Business Park.  It looks as if the 70 terminates and turns round somewhere in the South Acton industrial estate, so the crew don't have access to their purpose built rest room.  Not sure where the 440 goes.  It therefore seems that TfL don't have rights of access to the Business Park either, so again, it would be interesting to know what the original planning agreement had to say about this. We were trying to get in at the back entrance to the Business Park, so we didn't see what the deal was on the expensive new footbridge over the railway line - whether the public aren't allowed on the bridge (that who paid for?) or if they can cross the bridge but not get into the sterile zone beyond.

Peter Evans ● 2415d

What essential businesses operate from the business park?

Mark Evans ● 2414d

The security guard at the gate did say there was hardly anyone in there as people were mostly working from home, so I think their claim to be 'protecting the safety of their staff' is somewhat exaggerated. But however 'public' this site might appear it is, after all, private land now owned by a Chinese conglomerate who can ban the public, and our buses, whenever they like. Meanwhile, certainly during more normal times, the people working there 'swarm' through our streets, overwhelm our local stations, crowd into our pubs and cafes, and leave their Mobikes littering Bollo Lane! But do we complain?!

Peter Evans ● 2414d

What essential businesses operate from the business park?CBS News for one.

David Lesniak ● 2414d

Would it help if they removed the word Park.

Julian Pavey ● 2414d

Technically I believe it is called Chiswick Park, presumably after the Tube station, although it is referred to as Chiswick Business Park to differentiate it from Chiswick House Gardens, which is often referred to as Chiswick Park. The term "Business Park" is in widespread use nationwide,so dropping the word Park would probably not help.

Richard Greenhough ● 2414d

International SOS for another one.

Carl Wynne ● 2414d

Julian's dry wit seems to have fallen on a deaf ear..How about Chiswick Business Estate.....

Stuart Kerr ● 2414d

Everyone is forgetting Foxtons of course.

Mark Evans ● 2414d

" Do we complain?" Quite a lot by the looks of it!

Carl Wynne ● 2414d

Sorry mate Buisness park closed. But the wife needs her 1hr exercise in the lake 

Julian Pavey ● 2414d

If you spot someone with over-gelled hair and a light dusting of powder on their lapels then you know they are still there. More concerning is the thought that the Saudi and Chinese propaganda stations that are based there are still operating. That would essentially mean that our public transport system (which remember currently is for the use of key workers) is being disrupted to allow apologists for despotism to continue to work.

Kevin Howard ● 2414d

And, more importantly, for a company providing essential travel advice and organising medical evacuations when needed.

Carl Wynne ● 2414d

Update: 1) the new footbridge over to the Business Park has a barrier blocking access from the Bollo Lane end, which suggests the Business Park also owns the bridge. 2) it looks as if the 440 bus has reverted to its original route along Bollo Lane, except there are no bus stops for it because they were all uprooted when the 440 was re-routed into the Business Park for the convenience of those who work there.

Peter Evans ● 2413d

Given that anybody needing to go through the park at the moment will either be a key worker getting to work or someone performing an essential task such as buying food, this move seems incredibly ill-considered. It'll do long term damage to the relationship between the business park and the rest of the community. Someone told me that QVC was still broadcasting live from the location — please tell me that isn't true.

Andrew OSullivan ● 2412d