Forum Topic

Planters

Is this the model of the wonderful planters that are going to be strategically placed over the borough?This is at the entrance to the tunnel in dukes meadows on Dan Mason Drive.That photo reminds me of the great train robbery in the sixties.http://www.brentfordtw8.com/info/images/dukesmeadowsclosure.jpg

Bernard Allen ● 2345d39 Comments

Haha! It  looks very cheaply made.

Adrian Irving ● 2345d

'That photo reminds me of the great train robbery in the sixties'.Nostalgia is akin to driving whilst looking backwards.

Ken Munn ● 2345d

'It  looks very cheaply made.'Can you imagine the outcry on here if it looked expensively made!

Ken Munn ● 2345d

I can just hear the outcry if one of those is used in a posh road

Bernard Allen ● 2345d

Abundance installed two very similar outside Gunnersbury tube station last autumn, in association with the West Chiswick & Gunnersbury Society. The residents (who are quite posh!) helped plant them up, have set up a watering rota, and they look good. They were made by a local charity, Cultivate London, from reclaimed pallets. The Dukes Meadows one looks fine and serves its purpose to protect pedestrians and cyclists who would like to go through that tunnel without meeting oncoming traffic. I'm told there is a watering regime sorted. More please!

Karen Liebreich ● 2345d

Na there’s posh and there’s  POSH , sorry they look second rate and home made , and you don’t put a planter where a planter shouldn’t be.I don’t think you would have to worry about watering as it’s going to rain for the rest of the summer, while the 6 month trial is carried out.

Bernard Allen ● 2345d

"serves its purpose to protect pedestrians and cyclists who would like to go through that tunnel without meeting oncoming traffic." I am not sure people really believe that is the only or main reason this has suddenly been plonked there and if it is why has it not been done decades ago? It's  not as thought the motor car has just been invented.Could it be all about the money?

Adrian Irving ● 2344d

How long will Chiswick people continue to ignore Grant Shapps’ announcement on government policy last month, the resulting changes in DfT’s statutory guidance, the deal with TfL and direct guidance to Councils on expectations for reallocation of road space with new powers to immediately install temporary measures for up to 18 months. That is why this has happened now and there will be more of these soon. The motor car may have been invented a long time ago but its reign of unchallenged domination of street space came to an end last month. At least temporarily but likely much longer. Being rude about a charity’s planters will not alter the political reality.

Paul Campbell ● 2344d

The access and safety of the general public was discussed years ago.In approximately 2000 as I have already posted on here recently, the women of the Barnes Hockey club flagged up how unsafe they felt crossing Barnes bridge.Then they had to walk down and go under the railway bridge and up the other side the the car park by the Boat House.This started general discussions between local residents and the council to find away to make it safer for anyone who wanted to access sports facilities to the west side of the bridge.Lots of ideas were discussed, such as to use the abandon bridge next to the railway bridge as pedestrian route and cycle route, by cutting a two slop ramp into the side of the embankment to give easy access to the west side of the park.The Cycle route didn't really fit as there was no space on the Barnes side to access the bridge, so that was shelved.So over 20 years of going back to the problem the bridge under Barnes bridge was finally decided on.But in the middle of all this discussion, the contractor who looked after Hounslow parks and open spaces, came up with a very odd idea based on a maintenance budget.Dukes Meadows (also known as Riverside Lands)is one park, but the contractor wanted to section it off into 6 sections.This was finally dropped due to opposition from local residents and sports clubs.So now we have a trial to cut the Park in half based on traffic movement and safety of Pedestrians and cyclists. So how long before another part of the park is sectioned off? What is desperately needed is a redesign of the Staveley Gardens / Alexandra Gardens and Riverside Drive, to make it a lot safer for the amount of school children that used it to attend Cavendish, Chiswick, Grove Park, St Marys and Devonshire Road Schools.

Bernard Allen ● 2344d

PaulDon't underestimate the resolve of the local residents who have challenge many decisions made about the park.One thing Dan Mason Drive, The Promenade and Riverside drive are not classified as a public highway.The road belong the the parks division of the Council.In theory the only part of Riverside Drive the is classified as a public highway, is a very short section from Staveley Gardens to the traffic lights with the A316.Hounslow council will not maintain the roads in the park unless in benefits them.I often wounder how legal it is for vehicle to even use the roads in the park?

Bernard Allen ● 2344d

Bernard, I think it is great that the residents are proud of their space. I hope that they can see the benefits of not having investment bankers from Richmond barrelling through Dan Mason Drive at 30-40mph in their Porsche Cayennes to run on a treadmill in their £200 a month gym and will turn their attention as you say to making the Riverside Drive area safer because I hate taking my kids down it on their bikes with cars blocking the pavements and dangerous speeds and I totally agree that it needs a rethink. Interesting what you say about the status of the roads.

Paul Campbell ● 2344d

The organized residents over the last 20 years have attracted  more investment into the Park than the Council has ever had.It was left to rundown and it was only local people that decided, enough was enough.The local resident assisted the Old Meadonians FC to retain the pitches as they were going to be closed down because  the council couldn't maintain them, even though they were paying for them to be maintained.So the residents in one form or other have continued to work and restore the park.So far one and half million pounds of funding has be pulled into the park. making the half decent place it is today.

Bernard Allen ● 2344d

"I hope that they can see the benefits of not having investment bankers from Richmond barrelling through Dan Mason Drive at 30-40mph in their Porsche Cayennes"Not the first time Paul has invoked this "outrage." I find it funny and ironic given on other threads he has outwardly boasted about his wealth.

David Lesniak ● 2344d

"to run on a treadmill in a £200 gym"If you're going to plagiarise my comedy then at least do me the service of completing the joke. You see otherwise it rather looks like you've missed the point. I am glad that I have your attention. Do carry on. Have you got any parental advice today?

Paul Campbell ● 2344d

Paul CampbellBeing rude about a charity’s planters will not alter the political reality Paul Can you clear something up for me?When you mentioned about a Charity, which charity did you have in mind?

Bernard Allen ● 2344d

"So now we have a trial to cut the Park in half based on traffic movement and safety of Pedestrians and cyclists."The meadows are not cut in half. Things remain exactly as they always were except that a traffic restriction means that there are many fewer motor vehicles using both Dan Mason and Riverside.Go along and watch the numbers of people going under the railway arch.

Ken Munn ● 2344d

Bernard,it was mentioned in Karen's post above that a local charity, Cultivate London, made the planter.Paul

Paul Campbell ● 2344d

Oh please, Paul.You tried to weaponize the very thing you boast about.Humorous indeed.

David Lesniak ● 2343d

Haven't you learned that wealth doesn't buy you taste, common sense or a moral compass Uncle David? In Britain we also have an intuitive understanding that there is a difference between being wealthy and paying lots of tax. In fact the wealthier one is the less tax one pays typically. It is deeply gratifying to me that you are so impressed by the fact that some people who cycle including me pay for it through lots of income tax. It has obviously shaken your belief that they are all feckless freeholders to the core.

Paul Campbell ● 2343d

"Can you imagine the outcry on here if it looked expensively made!"Not if Cyclists paid for it / them, go on Ken see how many cyclists would put their hands into their pockets 😉

Loraine Pemberton ● 2343d

Could you ask pedestrians to chip in as well?

Ken Munn ● 2343d

"The motor car may have been invented a long time ago but its reign of unchallenged domination of street space came to an end last month. At least temporarily but likely much longer. Being rude about a charity’s planters will not alter the political reality."And how long it will be before Government, TfL and DoT look to fill in the financial void from the automotive industry and become a political reality ? Wonder if they'll think of a wee tax of some description from Cyclists... Just asking the obvious question.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2343d

Sure I'll pay VED for my bike. No problem.

Paul Campbell ● 2343d

"Haven't you learned that wealth doesn't buy you taste, common sense or a moral compass Uncle David?"Something of which I'm all too aware, Paul.You demonstrate it beautifully with nearly every single post.

David Lesniak ● 2342d

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Uncle David. One day you will wake up and say to yourself "Hang on! Am I the bad guy in this movie?"

Paul Campbell ● 2342d

As part of one of my early morning cycle rides I passed the planters today.The large one on the east side has been removed and replaced with three smaller ones, ditto on the east.What an improvement over the the previous arrangements. I do think it is so important to make sure these planters compliment the surrounds and don't stick out like a sore thumbs. lets keep things beautiful.I know it is most unfashionable to apologize these days but a poster has misintrupted my  careless use of language and somehow conveluted this into an insult to a charity. I am sorry about that but my intention was only to say I thought it looked ugly.Not so good news.As I feared the chain mower has swept away all the undergrowth on the east side of the bridge adjacent to the river to leave nothing but stubble.This was not only pleasing to my eye but an important habitat for small mammals, insects, butterflies and a rich food source for birds. A real shame and the worst possible time of year to do it.Better news.People were out in numbers enjoying a morning walk, ride or jog.

Adrian Irving ● 2342d

That should read, ditto no the west.

Adrian Irving ● 2342d

Not doing to well this morning with my east and west. It's the undergrowth on the west.

Adrian Irving ● 2342d

"People were out in numbers enjoying a morning walk, ride or jog."And that is surely the objective. Remove a perceived danger and it becomes more attractive. The road system in the Meadows now seems to be carrying much less traffic. Maybe there were more people just driving through than anyone realised.

Ken Munn ● 2342d

You are gracious Adrian. As said poster I apologise in return for misinterpreting. And I also appeciate your positive views on the improving situation over there. It is good to hear.

Paul Campbell ● 2342d

Quite so Ken and it begs the question why we need a multi million pound footbridge under the rail line when a few planters have done the job.

Adrian Irving ● 2342d

Ken Having volunteered on Dukes meadows from 1998 to 2012, in my time there was very little through traffic under the rail way bridge.You may find some away football teams enter via Riverside Drive to reach the Boat House in Dan Mason Drive,(Riverside Lands) and visa versa with members of the Virgin Active club entering via Chiswick Bridge.The emergency vehicles are to big to get under the bridge, so its really important to say exactly where you are as they may enter the Meadows from the wrong side. The only vehicles that can use the bridge are the police, so we will probably have an increase of the helicopter to pin point where the problem area is before they respond.Although nothing like the sixties, the park take on a different form. That's why the Park was lock at night up to the mid seventies. the gates behind the |Civil Service Rowing Club were locked at night, as were the gates in Riverside Drive. Also the gates were close beside the Grove Park farm House and the Iron gates entrance in Edensor Road were also locked.So a large part of Dukes Meadows was closed off from the general public.That's when the park had a Park Keeper who lived within the park.So closure of the roads in the park is nothing new, the Council is just reverting back in a small way to how it was.Don't know if it makes any difference or not, Most land in Dukes meadows is leased from the Local Authority. But Virgin Active actually holds the free hold of the land it stands on, as it purchased the Chiswick Products Sports club, which was part of the factory when they moved out of Chiswick. The land that the factory stood on was sold to the Local Authority to build houses.     

Bernard Allen ● 2342d

Because after consultation over many years, Female users of the sports facilities didn't feel safe using the tunnel under the railway ridge on dark winter evenings.You will have to look up the consultation documents for the rest of the reasons.

Bernard Allen ● 2342d

Yes Bernard, I did hear that.A woman's hockey team. Don't a lot of TV dramas bump people off under bridges anyway? I really can't see much difference this bridge will make to people's real or perceived fears.Better street lighting would seem a good idea in and around the tunnel.Isn't the truth that this argument has been dug up from the past after all other justifications have been blown apart?Does this hockey team still exist I wonder.

Adrian Irving ● 2342d

A hockey term certainly exists there, although whether it is the same one I don't know. And, I think, an all-weather pitch to boot.

Ken Munn ● 2342d

you have know idea whats been consulted about over 20 years and I don't feel inclined to inform you about it.Maybe instead of just using the place and moaning about it, roll your sleeves up and volunteer to restore the area, before it disappears altogether. Oh, extra Lighting has also has been voted against, but you would have to contact the DMT about that, not me.

Bernard Allen ● 2342d

Bernard, I have volunteered there to work on Sundays and still on the list however I am now a volunteer at Charring Cross on Sundays and even I can't be in two places at the same time.

Adrian Irving ● 2342d

BTW no need to apologise for your little outburst Bernard.Apologies are so out of fashion.

Adrian Irving ● 2342d

OK

Bernard Allen ● 2342d