Forum Topic

South Parade Traffic Nightmare Ahead

Just spotted on the roadworks update in the newsletter that work on the new cycleway crossing is going to start next week with threeway traffic lights managing the flow by the junction with Rusthall Avenue.Ealing Council refused to suspend the Fisher's Lane restriction during the closure for watermain works nearby recently. The news that it is generating such a huge number of fines explains why and they will have an additional bonanza as frustrated motorists stuck in queues use the underpass. Sat Navs will be directing lots of cars through the Bedford Park area to avoid the congestion.It is surprising that Ealing Council have gone ahead with the new crossing design. It looked like the danger of directing cyclists to the blind corner at South Parade/Rusthall Avenue was self-evident.

Mark Evans ● 2075d7 Comments

Maybe they could get rid of the redundant mini-roundabout at the junction with Fishers Lane at the same time, and paint NO ENTRY on the road in big letters. Leaving the road layout on either side of the underpass marked up exactly as it was before the restrictions is unhelpful to motorists and lazy if not actually intentionally deceitful of the two Councils involved.

Peter Evans ● 2075d

Sensible as this suggestion is I don't think it would be compliant with Department for Transport guidance. The most effective way to sign the restriction would be a No Entry symbol with 'except for buses and cycles' below but this is not within the standard. Instead the favoured one is the flying motorcycle sign which not everyone understands the meaning of even if they spot it.The signage as it stands is clearly inadequate and there is a template on the ChiswickAppeals.com site which can be used for appeals which gives a convincing case that it is not within the law. I'd be very surprised if Ealing were willing to take any appeal using this document to the adjudicator.Additionally, the inclusion of black cabs in the restriction does appear to have put it within the ambit of Justice Lang's judgement against TfL making it illegal.At this stage however, most of the people getting fines are probably not local and won't be aware of the controversy about this restriction and the support available for appeal. For Ealing Council the roadworks on South Parade coincide with the bus strike and a large number of people needing to drive when they don't normally do so leading to a new wave of victims.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 2074d

I drove past the site yesterday. Although there didn't appear to be any workers on the site there were barriers coming out onto the road causing a partial obstruction but not sufficient to cause any major delays. There seemed to be the equipment for contra-flow traffic lights but it wasn't being used.

Anita Blake ● 2073d

Just crazy south parade is a narrow road 2 buses passing have difficulty, this is a residential area what are Ealing council thinning off, just insane,

Jayne Thorburn ● 2073d

Yes insane, perfect description of Ealing Council.  Someone said recently they seem to be seeing how far can you push people before they crumble. Not quoted word for word. Anyone else feel like this is the case?

Maggie Dodge ● 2073d

The schemes are all sticks and no carrots. Had they asked people to estimate how many car journeys they made per year and, in the interest of us all and the climate, tried to reduce these, people might have been more cooperative. Secure bike storage or parking needs to be improved at, for instance, Turnham Green station. Bike theft numbers must deter potential cyclists. The bike hire schemes weren’t ideal with no docking stations this far out and the dock less ones just being dumped untidily all over the place.

Vivienne Cox ● 2073d

I believe I'm to blame for that one Maggie."I sometimes wonder if we haven't been selected to be part of an experiment to ascertain just how far it is possible to push people and get away with it."I was referring to Hounslow's behaviour in another matter, but I'm sure it can be applied to Ealing just as well.

Bruce Hammal ● 2073d