Forum Topic

Chiswick High Road and emergency services non ability to access

I witnessed last week an ambulance trying to get through single lane traffic both ways....impossible task for the driver.  This high road now is so dangerous it only needs a vehicle road accident which would then force any driver, including emergency services (police also in pursuit), to prevent any reasonable and safe thoroughfare.

Anthony Garrick ● 2174d16 Comments

Agree 100%. I live on Chiswick High road, next to Turnham Green Terrace, opposite Devonshire road. Yes, Chiswick High road is impossible for any ambulance, police to travel at speed due to gridlock that seems to be the norm now. I think it's pretty obvious due to road works were the council have cut down a third of the road to be a cycle lane to which cyclist's are not using, or if that very little cyclists to justify a third of the road being cut off.All I see now is traffic jams, honking horns, frustration from drivers. I guessing the pollution rate for Chiswick has rocketed as a result.And yes, as witnessed even the Queen got trapped in this traffic a week back.Obviously whoever came up with this idea to cut a third of the road of to create chaos for any driver or emergency services should be sued.

chris poole ● 2173d

Yeah right on brother. Ill have to dig the posts out when you were equally concerned about the emergency services when parked cars have been in the way.I know it will be here somewhere. You can't keep an inspirational crusader from his quest.

Tony Smart ● 2173d

An ambulance stuck in traffic on Chiswick High Rd was shown on the early evening ITV London News last night to illustrate the dangers of some of these roads changes around London while a paramedic spokesman discussed the serious problems it’s causing for the emergency services. Removing the bus lanes, moving bus stops to islands and narrowing available road space is dangerous.

Michael David Rowe ● 2173d

The sarcasm is unnecessary and a pretty transparent attempt to deflect from an important issue.With your TfL associations you may know people on the project team or actually have worked on it yourself so it is time. as they say, to put on your big boy pants and give this matter some proper consideration.Research into ambulance response times shows for instance that in the case of a cardiac arrest a one minute reduction in the time taken to get to the patient increases their chance of living by 24%The main fact that you have to deal with is that the temporary cycle lane has created an extended pinch point between Turnham Green and Turnham Green Terrace in which there is no space for gridlocked traffic to make way for an emergency service vehicle. Badly parked cars or previous traffic jams may have briefly delayed vehicles in the past but never to the extent which I have witnessed recently and numerous others have reported as having seen.Do you dispute that since the cycle lane began construction there has been a significant increase in the average length of time it has taken an emergency service vehicle to travel along this section of the road?If so on what date are you basing this view?Does TfL consider ambulance response times in any cost benefit analysis of safety impact of the measures taken and, if not, why not?What would you consider to be an acceptable increase in the average journey time for an emergency service vehicle for any project you were involved with?

Francis Rowe ● 2173d

I see a few ambulances daily get stuck on Chiswick High road. Saw the Queen get stuck as well last week. Its was all over the papers. I think whoever is in charge of making these stupid decisions in Hounslow council needs a good wake call to the extreme damage being caused not just to ambulances and the Queen, but also pollution and accident son the road. The bike lane taking up a third of the road is hardly even being used by cyclists. Its empty pretty much most of the day.

chris poole ● 2173d

This morning I had to be in Fulham for an 8.45am meeting and went along A4 from Sutton Court Road, gosh what a surprise the number of cyclists using that route was incredible and far more that I've seen on Chiswick High Road over the past few weeks !I'm absolutely certain that the likes of Messrs Robinson, Pike, Smart, Campbell and S Mayorcas have in the past said the A4 is totally unsuitable on numerous occasions. If that's so why do so many cyclists use it and this morning one of the cyclists using the A4 route was Cllr John Todd !Seems to me with so few junctions,  virtually no Pedestrians and a straight route through to Hammersmith that's where C9 should be relocated to - does anyone agree with that ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 2173d

Many of us have said that from the very start of discussions re cycle lanes. But the councils thought they knew better.

Claire Moran ● 2173d

That's the route I use. When I mentioned this I got a telling-off from Paul C. for resurrecting ancient history. I know that argument is long-lost but it still seems like a no-brainer to me compared with the alternative.

Bruce Hammal ● 2173d

I am probably way off beam but I think the real reason Hammersmith Bridge was shut overnight was the fear of a corporate manslaughter claim.QED if, god forbid, people get killed and it can be demonstrated the present rushed arrangements/ 'design' were in part responsible I  wonder who will have to hold their hands up?

Adrian Irving ● 2173d

If I am heading to Hammersmith or into town I always use the old cycle lane along the A4. Never understood why it wasn't reinstated instead of trying to make it fit along Chiswick High Road.Those who say it is too polluted are missing the point. If the Govt are serious about all cars being electric in the near future than there will be no pollution. Very short term view.

Chris Blackwell ● 2173d

It seems completely illogical why would we not make best use of the space we already have, the A4 route seems to get the vote from cyclists why on earth would TFL and Hounslow council ignore this. CHR is totally unsuitable for a cycle route, there are thousands of residents living off side street so making their lives miserable and dangerous having to cross a cycle route although I guess if no one uses it ha! just plain madness is there an different agenda? It make no sense whatsoever.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2173d

I guess that's probably what all the cyclists are using then, as hardly any on Chiswick High road using the new lane. Most cyclists on Chiswick High road use the pavement or the side of the road going towards Hammersmith in line with cars etc.

chris poole ● 2173d

Tony is normally a well-informed contributor so it is disappointing to see him post in this way. As you say it is an issue that really matters. It may be the case that he realises he embarrassed himself a bit and doesn't want to prolong the discussion so you won't get a reply.I don't know the answer to your questions but I can guess that TfL haven't looked at this issue in the detail that they should have. The changes are experimental and therefore how they work will be seen over the course of six to 18 months. The problem with this approach is the impact of delays to ambulances will be difficult to measure. It would require a very detailed analysis to confirm if anyone died or suffered more serious health consequences because medical care arrived later than they would have done otherwise because they were held up in Chiswick.However, the feedback given to the trial by the emergency services is likely to be pretty damning. I'm increasingly convinced by the idea that the temporary cycle lane was designed to fail and that it is more about protecting jobs of people at TfL than anything else. Ultimately the only beneficiaries of this scheme will be those that were paid to build it and then paid again to dismantle it.

Paul Corcoran ● 2172d

Is the new lane finished now?

Philippa Bond ● 2172d

Is the new lane finished now?No, and little work going on it seems. Also some of it full of wet leaves.PS  "time. as they say, to put on your big boy pants"brilliant ;-))

Nick Jenkins ● 2172d

The thing is that Messrs Robinson, Pike, Smart, Campbell and Ms Mayorcas have different perception of cycling than most of usual cyclists. Their main goal is to be able to keep momentum and not to have to slow down anywhere.

Alex Shpinkov ● 2172d