Forum Topic

Leaflet in support of Fisher's Lane closure

I've received a leaflet through my door in favour of keeping the restrictions on Fisher's Lane. It appears to be from an organisation called Better Ealing Streets, who presumably having lost the battle over LTNs elsewhere in the borough are concentrating on the restrictions that remain.The leaflet doesn't appear to have been drafted by people familiar with the area, for instance it refers Chiswick Common rather than Chiswick Back Common and appears to believe that Fishers Lane is close to the entrance to the Rocks Lane facility. That said, I'm not as implacably opposed to the closure as when it first was suggested particularly now Turnham Green Terrace was opened. I've switched from doing the major weekly shop from Chiswick Sainsbury's to Acton and we tend to bypass Chiswick High Road for any longer journeys to the west by using the north circular, not because of Fisher's Lane but because the High Road tends to be congested. The traffic on South Parade is clearly higher than it used to be but not too an unacceptable level although parents at the nursery by St Albans Church might disagree.What the leaflet doesn't address is the displacement, which perhaps the publishers are unaware of. The vehicles that used to go down Fisher's Lane are now using Acton Lane and the tailbacks still regularly reach from the High Road past Chiswick Park station which means stationary traffic outside people's homes and another nursery on Bollo Lane.The leaflet fails to see the irony when it states - Some people want... more cars driving down your roads - which is effectively what they are advocating for residents around Acton Green.

Anita Blake ● 1880d118 Comments

I think the most important point you’ve raised is that this has almost certainly been put together by a non local.. Why should non locals have any input. I have not forgotten that Fishers Lane was closed at the same time as Turnham Green Terrace, horrendous and uncaring. There are some quite nasty people who have an agenda that is not to make life better or easier for us in the area. It’s to make driving difficult . Bullies I think they’re called, probably if the two wheel variety  with cars at home !

Maggie Dodge ● 1880d

Better Streets Ealing are the masters of misinformation. When the LTNs in Ealing were rejected by around 75% of those consulted they claimed that the schemes had overwhelming support.It has nothing at all to do with better streets, rather it is simply a sense of entitlement from those who cannot afford to live in gated communities but wish to impose that type of restriction on everybody else.When they tried to skew the consultation result in Ealing they quoted opinion from people in Coventry and Hartlepool so not understanding the Fishers Lane scheme and its impact is hardly a surprise.

N V Brooks ● 1880d

Well they've certainly picked the right target, since it doesn't take much to convince LBH of the rightness of their policy of making the roads of Chiswick virtually impossible  to negotiate by anyone but cyclists.

Colin Jordan ● 1880d

It's not about cycling.Better Streets Ealing simply want to impose their 'values' on everybody. They want the benefits of living in London but don't like traffic and noise, actually, I don't think they like others at all. These are the people who would move to the country and then complain about the sound of church bells or cricket on the green.

N V Brooks ● 1880d

The LBH traffic report showed that journeys, both local and through trips, have become rather more direct since Fishers Lane was closed to motor vehicles, and there has been no overall increase in trips north of the High Road - they're 5% down compared to the Borough average over the same periods. South Parade traffic speeds are also no different to historical values - it's still close to free running throughout the day. It's also notable that Belmont School is strongly in favour of keeping Fishers Lane traffic-free. Fishers Lane was not designed for motor vehicles: the bridge was built in 1869 at the intersection of the original Roman road with the tube tracks, so there's considerable precedent here!

Tom Pike ● 1880d

Fisher's Lane may not have been designed for motor vehicles but there is no suggestion that buses are to be stopped from using it (or at least I hope so) which undermines your point.Anita's observations do not contradict your stats dump but of course you ignore the key problem that is Acton Lane to where most of the traffic has been displaced. Belmont School is not against reopening, the head teacher is, but many of the parents are unhappy particularly those which are seeing increased traffic outside nurseries where their other children are attending.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1880d

There has been a 20 plus percent increase in traffic using Prebend Gardens under the new traffic arrangements. This surely has something to do with the closure of Fishers Lane and drivers resorting to Prebend Gdns as a through route to Chiswick High Road. LBH consider this acceptable despite Prebend Gardens being a totally residential road and Fishers Lane for the most part not.The figure above was based largely on lock down traffic and will no doubt increase as things get back to normal.

Mairi Franses ● 1880d

It's clear that traffic has increased on Acton Lane, but overall trips in the area have dropped compared to the Borough average due to a reduction in through traffic, as well as becoming more direct. Overall that means less pollution and emissions. It therefore appears that Fishers Lane was mostly used as a faster but longer route, not as a short cut.

Tom Pike ● 1880d

The traffic report confirms there has been limited displacement from Fishers Lane to Prebend Gardens. But to put it in perspective, Fishers Lane saw more than 15 times the drop in traffic as the increase on Prebend Gardens.The report also shows that Borough-wide traffic is already 7% above pre-pandemic levels, though for the four Chiswick areas it was on average 17% down.

Tom Pike ● 1880d

As ever always best to look at the original source document when Tom Pike quotes figures.The Steer report (the independent traffic consultants hired by Hounslow Council) gives details on their traffic counts taken to assess the impact of these schemes including the Fisher's Lane closure.The average daily traffic flow on Acton Lane was down by 10% comparing September 2017 to September 2020. For the borough as a whole the fall was 25%. Weekday traffic on Acton Lane was down by just 6%. Put another way the number of vehicles on Acton Lane was 20% higher than it would have been if traffic patterns had matched the rest of the borough. As much of this traffic will also have travelled along South Parade it is hard to conclude other than significantly elevated traffic levels have occurred there as a result of the closure.For Prebend Gardens the average daily traffic flow was up 25% between October 2013 compared to September 2020 where as the change across the borough for the same period was down 19%. This is the 'limited' impact of the Fisher's Lane closure that Tom Pike describes. If you want to understand why set a destination in Hammersmith in your SatNav when travelling from the north of Chiswick. More often than not it will suggest avoiding TGT which has consistent queues at the lights and using Prebend Gardens instead.Tom Pike quotes other figures but gives no source. They are unlikely to be as authoratative as the Steer data.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1880d

My numbers are from Steer, but the most up-to-date that reflect the status in May 2021, not the September 2020 figures you're quoting.

Tom Pike ● 1880d

Can tell us where we can find this new more recent report by Steer?

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1880d

Locals using the roads and living in the affected areas know more than any report, the fact is Acton lane and south parade are a lot busier and fisher lane has made a big impact. It’s needs reinstating…..

Jayne Thorburn ● 1880d

https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/streetspace-review

Tom Pike ● 1880d

How local do you want a consultation/vote to be? Why not just ask the people who live on the affected part of Fishers Lane whether they want the closure to continue. Or is that too local?And should children have a vote?

Andrew Jones ● 1880d

Known locally as “Bitter Ealing Streets”. Wonder if there is any connection between them and the social media sites/accounts aimed at Chiswick?

Russell Pearson ● 1880d

There we go again, data that doesn’t add up, versus the opinion of local people. 

Maggie Dodge ● 1880d

Tom, I've just read this report and you do put a rather favourable spin on the data, to say the least - like you make it up to support your views?  You say "there has been no overall increase in trips north of the High Road". The data is poorly presented, but in 6.13 of the report I measure the May 2021 trips as 90mm in total on my screen, and the Jan 2020 trips as 87mm. Unless you have the source data to contradict this, or I can't use a ruler, than there has been an overall increase in trips north of the High Road. You also say South Parade traffic speeds are also no different to historical values. Please can you tell me where you got this data from as I cannot see it in the report (ie it's not there, you've made it up). Data is there for Fishers Lane, Prebend, Bath Road, Goldhawk, but not South Parade.  Please tell me if I have missed something, or please tell me what backs your assertion about South Parade?The only indication I can find regarding speeds on South Parade are the references Steer makes to bus speeds. They state "There also appears to be an increase in traffic using the east-west corridor to the north of the Tube line, for example along Bath Road. This increased traffic may also be having an impact on bus journey times along South Parade.” If you do the math on the data, bus speeds for the 94 between Turnham Green Station and Acton Green stops are down 25%.  This is the only evidence I can see in the report an it points to slower traffic along South Parade. Moreover, anyone that has been stuck in a near 1m tailback from Acton Lane/Chiswick Road junction to the Avenue will certainly take a different view to you. I know nothing about about Belmont School, but it's interesting that someone else has corrected your unsubstantiated assertion on that.

Mark Deacon ● 1880d

Tom - aren't you a professor - do you just make up data and conclusions in your research?You say "overall trips in the area have dropped compared to the Borough average due to a reduction in through traffic, as well as becoming more direct. Overall that means less pollution and emissions."Looking at the badly presented Steer data, the Borough average is up approximately 10%. The "overall trips" north of Chiswick High Road are up approximately 3.5% (see my earlier post). So you are correct that they have dropped compared to the Borough average.But you are COMPLETELY WRONG that "Overall this means less pollution and emissions." It doesn't. There are more trips, so there will be more pollution and emissions (per se). As noted in my post above, bus speeds are down on South Parade (not stable as you claim) and north of Chiswick High Road the Steer report (6.16) shows that overall speeds are down. Unless people are suddenly choosing to drive with more care and attention for their fellow citizens, this is very likely to be because there is more congestion, equals more pollution. And it will be consistent with Steer's data that shows there is now more traffic on Acton Lane than there was pre-pandemic on Fishers Lane and Acton Lane combined - I guess you overlooked that in your analysis.Far from commenting on an academic journal, reading you posts is like having to mark primary school homework.

Mark Deacon ● 1880d

Tom, Claiming that a 15x drop in traffic on Fishers Lane is perspective for the 20% increase on Prebend Gardens is utter nonsense.The majority of traffic was not displaced to Prebend Gardens. You omit to point out that the traffic now on Acton Lane is more than Acton Lane and Fishers Lane combined before the pandemic.Nonetheless ,you dismiss there being "limited displacement" from Fishers Lane to Prebend Gardens - would you like 20% more traffic outside your house? I'm guessing not, but it's okay if it's someone else's house and suits your agenda? Doesn't that make you selfish?

Mark Deacon ● 1880d

TomI can't see where in the report it states that "Borough-wide traffic is already 7% above pre-pandemic levels, though for the four Chiswick areas it was on average 17% down" and I'm not sure it "shows" it as you claim.The report clearly shows an increase in traffic north of Chiswick High Road (see my earlier posts).  The report also shows a reduction in trips measured in Wellesley Road - that's not too surprising given that they blocked it off with some tree planters that you'd need a tank to remove.It also shows a decrease in trips in the South Chiswick "Liveable" Neighbourhood, unsurprisingly since Hartington Road was shut. It doesn't show any concomitant increase in traffic on the A316.However, the data sets are presented as charts and not annotated so you cannot combine them to form a conclusion about the total. Please can you corroborate your analysis?Where are you getting your data from?

Mark Deacon ● 1880d

There was a drop in traffic north of the High Road compared to the borough average over the same period. You’re not accounting for the background change in traffic. You can find the INRIX data for South Parade showing traffic has been free running, as well as the letter from the Head of Belmont strongly supporting maintaining the restrictions at https://mobile.twitter.com/FishersLaneCalm

Tom Pike ● 1880d

As I recall, the starting point for all these schemes was made out to be a response to the Covid outbreak. So 'closing' Turnham Green Terrace and Devonshire Road made sense as it allowed pedestrians using the shops to maintain a safe distance by spilling off the narrow pavements and into the road space.  Similarly, 'closing' Fishers Lane allowed pedestrians to walk in the road to avoid the single, narrow, elevated pavement.  But these Covid precautions are no more, so it seems obvious that these closures are no longer needed. This has been accepted with TGT and Devonshire, so why not Fishers Lane?  Maybe it's because all of a sudden it's become a designated north/south 'quiet' cycle route that's been hastily pulled out of someone's bottom drawer, with ludicrously inadequate facilities to get to it from Rusthall Avenue. So as with some of the LTNs, what started as potentially sensible and temporary anti-Covid schemes, are now being defended as ways of saving the world from environmental catastrophe. Pull the other one!

Peter Evans ● 1880d

I didn’t  quite see that a road that permits buses and possibly fast moving cyclists should ever be used by pedestrians. Pavements or pedestrianised roads are the only safe place to walk.

Maggie Dodge ● 1880d

So what's that going to do for pedestrians safety if families on bikes have to use that narrow pavement to pass under the bridge on Fishers Lane?

John Hall ● 1879d

No really sure I understand your point. Are you saying that families would cycle along the passageway - surely not? The risk remains when cycling through the underpass that you come face to face with a big red bus so if you were with a child that was likely to find this intimidating then, whether the road is open to other traffic or not, the best thing to do would be to dismount and wheel the bike the 20 or so yards along the pathway.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1879d

Not only big red buses but it would seem a fair few number of random motor vehicles with the drivers being unaware of the restrictions. I read that the camera at Fishers Lane was on target to be one of the most profitable in Britian.

Adrian Irving ● 1879d

Cycling though with the busses is no issue the drivers are perfectly courteous 

John Hall ● 1879d

While that may be true most of the time, having cycled through the underpass 100s of times, it is my experience that the occasional bus driver loves a game of chicken.The courtesy or otherwise of the bus driver seems a bit by the by anyway as it is impossible for them to drive several tonnes of metal through a dark confined space that wouldn't be intimidating to a small child.The slightly bizarre East Acton to Chiswick cycleway recommends crossing Acton Green to approach the underpass for inexperienced cyclists which seems to me bad advice. If you do this you are entering the underpass at a blind corner.The safest options with children are either to stay on the road to the mini roundabout. That gives you a clear view into the tunnel and you can wait at the entrance to let any oncoming vehicle including buses pass. Alternatively if the child is not confident enough to negotiate the mini-roundabout then it would be much better to dismount and use the elevated pathway to get through.Looking back my mixed success with getting my kids to take up cycling seems to be down to me not realising how terrifying it could be for them when they are young so my advice to anyone with small children is not to take them through the underpass because if a bus comes through at the same time they may stop associating cycling with enjoyment.

Mark Evans ● 1879d

I have found it perfectly fine with my young kids and then opens up reaching areas we used to drive to via further onward safe routes such as Dukes Meadows, Kew Gardens, The wetland centre, Barnes common, Putney hard etc. I'm not keen to go back to having the bottom of my road with the traffic aggressively jockeying to get through the underpass and blocking the mini roundabout as was before, that's definitely off putting to kids on bikes. 

John Hall ● 1879d

I'd be careful and remember your kids won't necessarily tell you they are scared. My now adult son says a trip we took to Richmond Park so terrified him he stopped cycling as soon as it was an option for him. At the time I thought it was a great day out. Thankfully now he is back on a bike and cycling more regularly but that was over a decade lost.A basic principle with children would be to avoid times when there is lots of traffic. Fisher's Lane was rarely that busy at the weekend but if you have so many vehicles that things are getting snarled up you shouldn't be taking small children out. Fisher's Lane is the least of your problems - the narrow lanes on South Parade combined with the buses make it potentially lethal for even adult riders.

Mark Evans ● 1879d

The families on bikes can go the long way around and experience what a few more minutes of travel is like. The rest of us do it daily.Try it.

David Lesniak ● 1879d

If young children are frightened or their parents concerned  by meeting the occasional bus in Fishers Lane, they can always dismount and wait for it to pass through, or walk their bike along the pedestrian footway.Which is exactly the sort of response they may carry out when faced with any other road situation which appears difficult or hazardous.

Richard Cathcart ● 1879d

I wonder how many people on this thread are truly local.I live just South of the bridge - you can see it from some rooms in our building and I have friends and relations just North of Fisher Lane.The closure has been good for me and others here.  As wheelchair users we find the footpath is awkward especially that slope by the playground gate and too narrow.Yes rarely you might meet a bus but as another poster said they are nearly always courteous.

David Grantley ● 1879d

Yep I think a lot of non locals jumping on the anti LTN bandwagon here. Personally I value the improved foot and bike access to CHR and the far pleasanter Chiswick Back Common and Fishers Lane playground more than the inconvenience caused by the loss of my old rat run at the end of my road. 

John Hall ● 1879d

I think the Ealing surveys tended to show that residents within the LTNs didn't want them to continue, despite being the intended beneficiaries, while 'outsiders' came over as being more in favour of them.  Maybe this was the result of some concerted campaign, as you'd expect 'outsiders' to vote against them, being most inconvenienced by the loss of their favourite through routes. I imagine the council decided to favour the wishes of their LTN residents when they decided to suspend some of the schemes, rather than follow the views of people from elsewhere.

Peter Evans ● 1879d

It is very good to hear that the closure is benefitting wheelchair users who live on the road David.

Paul Campbell ● 1879d

It was an utterly flawed Survey Monkey survey. Respondents didn't have to identify themselves or where they lived. Guess what happened?

Carl Wynne ● 1879d

Maybe Paulo can shed a glimmer on his Twitter chums?

Russell Pearson ● 1879d

It was the exact opposite: support for the LTNs in Ealing was always highest within them: https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201268/low_traffic_neighbourhoods/2841/ltn_consultations/1

Tom Pike ● 1879d

No Tom, I had not missed that point at all. I was calling you out on the fact that you falsely said that because traffic had fallen relative to the borough average, pollution and congestion would be lower north of Chiswick High Road. This is not true, however, because the absolute level of traffic had risen, as shown in the Steer data. You were manipulating both words and data to provide a false and misleading impression that the Streetspace measures are successful, when they are not, presumably because you are anti-car, and want your views to prevail regardless of the facts.

Mark Deacon ● 1879d

Further Tom, you claim that speeds and traffic flow on South Parade are unchanged, but the INRIX data you point me to on your twitter page actually shows that average traffic speeds on South Parade have decreased at almost every hourly interval since the Streetspace measures were introduced. (It also does not reference when the base measure is taken, so the data cannot be relied upon as it is.)Once more, you have pointed to iffy or incomplete data and stated something as fact, when it is clearly not the case.  Do you always do that?  I presume you do it to support your personal pro-cycling and anti-car views at the expense of reasoned debate and others' opinions, and the truth?

Mark Deacon ● 1879d

If the number of trips has fallen relative to the Borough average, then it’s reasonable to conclude the measures have led to lower levels of pollution and emissions than if no action had been taken.In fact taking into account both the change in the number of trips and their increase in directness, neither local or through-trip lengths in total have increased in absolute terms, though that’s secondary to the relative fall. This is about reducing pollution and emissions and encouraging active transport, not being anti car.

Tom Pike ● 1879d

Traffic speeds on South Parade are currently very close to the free-flowing speed of 17 mph. The lowest hourly average speed throughout the day is 14 mph at 4 pm . In fact as the speed limit is 20 mph, the INRIX data shows a fair proportion of cars must be speeding along South Parade. A reduction of a one or two miles an hour is to be welcomed in that case, unless you think speed limits are anti-car measures as well.

Tom Pike ● 1879d

Give up Tom Pike,  you’ve been rumbled.

Maggie Dodge ● 1879d

The latest INRIX data shows at least 5% of cars averaging speeds above  the legal limit along the entire length of South Parade. Given there’s three roundabouts and three zebra crossings along its rather short length, that 5% is somewhat of an underestimate of the proportion speeding at any time. At the other end, only 1% of cars averaged less than 8 mph along South Parade. The latest data shows speeding is the issue along South Parade, not gridlock.

Tom Pike ● 1878d

The answer to speeding isn't to create gridlock. South Parade is quite narrow and static traffic is very difficult to negotiate on a bike.A large proportion of vehicles ignore the speed limit on South Parade and the closure of Fisher's Lane has increased the number of vehicles and therefore the number speeding.

Mark Evans ● 1878d

The INRIX data confirms there is no gridlock on South Parade, and the restrictions on Fishers Lane have caused traffic along South Parade to fall.

Tom Pike ● 1878d

Sorry Tom but that isn't what either of the Steer reports say. There has been no regular gridlock along South Parade since the early implementation of the closure when Turnham Green Terrace was also closed but traffic levels are clearly higher and the data unambiguously confirms this as a fact. Steer specify in their report that the INRIX data isn't that useful for reaching conclusions about the closure. Their own data shows that traffic on Acton Lane is 20% higher than it might otherwise have been expected to be. It is impossible to conclude that if the number of vehicles on Acton Lane has increased to such a degree then there won't also have been a rise on South Parade which confirms my regular observations from walking and cycling along this road.The interesting conclusion from Steer is that the Fisher's Lane closure has done nothing to reduce the amount of local journeys which was the main justification for its introduction. This surprised me because like other people living in the north of Chiswick I have tended to drive towards Acton to do shopping since handy access to the rear entrance of Sainsbury's was closed but it looks like not enough people are doing this to have an impact on the numbers.

Mark Evans ● 1878d

As the final Steer report shows, compared to January 2020 by May this year local trips had increased by 24% in the borough as a whole. For North Chiswick local trips increased by 9%.

There is no data in either report on the traffic volumes along South Parade. However, the interim report has an INRIX map of traffic changes due to the Fishers Lane closure, with decreases along South Parade:

Tom Pike ● 1878d

Hounslow's Streetspace Review shows no modal shift. Fishers Lane traffic has been diverted onto other roads, principally Acton Lane and bus journeys have become longer on the High Rd, Turnham Green Terrace and South Parade. At certain times of the day you may as well walk as take an E3 bus. Strangely enough this is the experience of most local people.

Mandy Waters ● 1878d

The E3 northbound saw rather limited changes to journey times compared to the southbound service, which became much faster at all times in October last year and then slower during the day in May. Given the much smaller changes to the 267 along the High Road, the changes to the E3 were most likely down to the change in the restrictions on TGT, particularly the length of the southbound queue that builds up at the lights at CHR. However, I don't think you're advocating the reclosure of TGT on the basis that it was shown to dramatically improve the southbound E3 bus times! Although not reported by Steer, it is also very likely that the southbound 272 has seen similar improvements in travel times due to the restrictions on Fishers Lane as the E3 southbound saw with the restrictions on TGT.

Tom Pike ● 1878d

Traffic always used to be slow southbound at peak times on TGT both before and after the 'trial' of closing TGT to through private traffic. I wouldn't imagine that the closure of Fishers Lane would have much bearing on the level of traffic going southwards down TGT.I also remember that pre-pandemic you used to regularly get queues of traffic heading south along Acton lane from the petrol station at the end of South Parade at peak hours. It feels to me that the delay going via this route is now greater, since the closure of Fishers Lane. I find it hard to believe that the average speed at peak hours hasn't gone down ... but then again I always used to drive down Fishers Lane exactly to avoid the queue along Acton Lane.Is there any data on how long the 94 takes to travel the final bit of its route from Ramillies Road (bus stop U) and the terminus at Acton Green (bus stop V) now and compared to when Fishers Lane was open to cars?

Andrew Jones ● 1878d

Tom Pike "As the final Steer report shows, compared to January 2020 by May this year local trips had increased by 24% in the borough as a whole. For North Chiswick local trips increased by 9%."So we can conclude that pollution and trips have actually increased.  We can draw absolutely no conclusions about the relative changes because, and in fairness this is one of the aims of LTNs, the road closures by definition change traffic patterns.So for Tom to conclude, as he does that "If the number of trips has fallen relative to the Borough average, then it’s reasonable to conclude the measures have led to lower levels of pollution and emissions than if no action had been taken." whilst completely correct, is potentially seriously misleading.  It could be that the correct conclusion after analysis of all traffic patterns not just within Chiswick but also to and from Chiswick shows that it has no effect on overall levels of pollution and emissions but has simply shifted where the pollution and emissions are.And I am someone who has consistently supported the closure of Fishers Lane (but not TGT) if only on safety grounds - and I would be happy if buses were not allowed to use it either

Justin Stephenson ● 1878d

Of course any traffic survey will fail to account for changes outside of the area measured. However, in this case we have the map I posted above that covers a larger area and shows no change for NS trips affected by the Fishers-Lane restrictions outside of the area measured. At that time there were also restrictions on TGT.It therefore seems rather unlikely that just the current restrictions on Fishers Lane would produce a significant displacement outside of the measured area that would more than compensate for the relative measured fall.

Tom Pike ● 1878d

I can barely look at these posts now, as it causes me so much anger. People still suggesting the closure of Fishers Lane to cars has not increased the amount of traffic on other roads, or that Fishers Lane was not used as a short cut to the shops on or near the High Road, or that it's closure has cleared the air in the area and made it a more pleasant and safer environment. These people either do not live north of the High Road, or in Chiswick at all, do not rely on their car for work, family, shopping, etc. or are quite simply so focused on what they want they don't stop for one second to think of others and how they might be affected.I live in Bedford Park with my family, and the closure of Fishers Lane has caused a major disruption to our lives in terms of getting around Chiswick and shopping locally. It has also dramatically increased our journey times to various places, including children's activities, taking them to school, and carrying out family shopping.The traffic has increased on South Parade and Acton Lane, journey times have become longer, and therefore emissions and pollution will have gone up. All this BS about it being a safe cycle route is exactly that - BS. Cars still use it, as do buses, cyclists, and now the dreaded scooterists.They claim 1000 cars an hour used it, but this is exaggerated false information. They show pictures of queuing cars, which again is totally false - cars were always free flowing unless there was the occasional flood. As with any road. And, as I have posted here before, if 1000 cars an hour did use it, where have they gone now? The previous poster seems to suggest there are quicker and easier routes to take! Of course, I used to use Fishers Lane because it took longer than my other possible routes...Nearly 90% of people want it reopened, and trust me, those who don't never used it and therefore have not felt the impact of it closing, or many of the other ridiculous schemes introduced during lockdown. The sooner this is overturned the better, and if the sane majority keep fighting for what is right, I am still hopeful that it will.

Mark Edwards ● 1878d

Could not agree more. Tom Pike should stop posting his data. Or be ignored.  I’m not sure where he lives but he needs to deal with reality, for a change

Maggie Dodge ● 1878d

Mark like you we live in Bedford Park and experience exactly the issues as you have highlighted. Utter madness I received an email via Ealing council stating their objective is to reduce pollution, keep traffic moving etc. They have no clue if they think fishers lane achieves this…,it achieves exactly the opposite clearly they don’t live in Chiswick and have no clue what they are talking about. Like Mark we live in hope that someone with local knowledge at the council steps up and reopens Fishers Lane 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Jayne Thorburn ● 1877d

Jayne, Mark, I live close to both of you. In this case a little local knowledge suggests that the Council might not look particularly favourably on a demand from any of us to remove the restrictions on Fisher Lane to allow us a half-mile drive to the High Road.

Tom Pike ● 1877d

Tom, 5 mins journey to CHR via Fishers Lane, 15 mins unless you get lucky having closed FL so how does that reduce pollution, congestion and the like. The councils aims are laudable they just have no clue how to achieve them, use tech and consider residents.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1877d

And for all three of us less than 10 minutes to walk to the High Road. That’s clearly the best way to reduce congestion, emissions and pollution.

Tom Pike ● 1877d

Tom no doubt many or maybe most drivers went along Fishers Lane to a destination way beyond CHR, however I agree if you can walk to where you want to go you should.

Adrian Irving ● 1877d

Tom, please don’t be so condescending, we walk frequently always have but there are occasions when one needs to use the car. Adrian’s point is also well made we need to get out of Chiswick, journey times have increased significantly. We get caught in congestion only adding to it when there is no need!

Jayne Thorburn ● 1877d

I often walk (live about 10 mins walking distance from CHR), but I also often use the car and I know that I don't always need to, but I find it convenient. A few months ago at the weekend I drove towards CHR and the traffic on South Parade was heavy. If Fishers Lane was open I would have undoubtedly gone that way and driven to the Sainsbury's car park and gone to wherever it was I was going to. Fishers Lane wasn't open though, and, rather than sit in traffic, I parked my car in South Parade, and walked to the shop I was going to.I suspect a significant amount of the vehicular traffic around Chiswick is undertaking journeys that are 'unnecessary'. When I set out to the shops was my journey (by car) 'necessary'? I don't think it was, but it was convenient for me to go by car - at least until I encountered excessive traffic.I suspect a lot of people are like me - if my car journey is made more difficult then I will consider whether I can undertake the same journey another way, but if it's easy, then I will sometimes just opt for the convenience of the car.  It will only be when we get road pricing that congestion will start to ease and those people who don't actually need to make their journeys by car start finding alternative ways of making them. I'm all for 'the polluter pays'.

Andrew Jones ● 1877d

Jayne, you claimed that anyone with local knowledge would support your demand to keep Fishers Lane unrestricted for your own admitted occasional use. As you can now see, your claim was not correct. In fact many might value it rather more as a protected route for daily active travel, including the Head of Belmont school who supports keeping Fishers Lane car-free to encourage children to get to school on foot or by bike, and local residents like David who value the improved wheelchair access it provides them to their friends on the other side of the tracks.Ealing will have to weigh up all the competing interests, but they might consider it rather condescending to be told they have no clue and your view should prevail over all other priorities.

Tom Pike ● 1877d

Tom, I think you will find you are in the minority and Ealing’s  decision will have nothing to do with residents, the overwhelming majority living north of CHR would like Fishers lane opened. There will be nothing democratic about the decision. Creating more congestion, thus more pollution is not in anyone interests.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1877d

Thanks, Andrew, for your candour. Your suspicions are correct - some of my neighbours also first said they resented the restrictions on Fishers Lane, but now appreciate the nudge that gave them to cycle and walk more locally. I also agree that road pricing is the way forward on the longer term, but that requires action at the national level. However, we need to be moving as fast as possible right now in reducing pollution and emissions because of the damage they are currently causing and the more drastic changes that would be required if we delay any further.Keeping Fishers Lane car free is not going to save the world, but it is encouraging more of us to make the changes that are necessary if we are going to contribute to a solution rather than just add to the problem.

Tom Pike ● 1877d

As I recall, Fishers Lane was closed in response to the pandemic when social distancing was required. Even then, before it was closed temporarily Hounslow's consultation asked whether people wanted it closed permanently. Given social distancing is no longer an issue, and saving the environment is, Fishers Lane should be reopened immediately to reduce the pollution so many residents are now experiencing on Acton Lane. End of.

Mandy Waters ● 1877d

The restrictions were not just motivated by the pandemic. Fishers Lane was also designated by Ealing as a segment of its north-south route to connect with C9 as part of its long-term strategy to encourage walking and cycling: https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/fishers-lane-bridge-to-become-bus-and-cycle-only/Therefore independent of the pandemic it provides a critical link for active travel. On the Hounslow side, our local councillors have been vociferous in demanding that cycle routes "must include north-south roads" and should not "come to a sudden end". https://chiswickherald.co.uk/conservative-councillors-welcome-new-government-policy-on-walking-and-cycli-p11427-314.htmGiven Fishers Lane is one of only three possible NS routes in Chiswick and is at one end of a cycle route, implementation of their policy would necessarily keep it car free.Chiswick north of the High Road, from Acton Lane to Goldhawk Road, has seen a fall in the overall number of trips taken by car compared to the rest of the Borough. A broader analysis indicates no displacement of those trips to other roads. While it's inevitable that any restrictions will cause a shift in traffic, if there is also a reduction compared to surrounding area they should be maintained if we are serious about reducing both pollution and emissions.

Tom Pike ● 1877d

Ealing has basically turned Fisher's Lane into a bus lane?So...that's a good thing isn't it?

Ed Saper ● 1877d

I think I have revised my opinion. I can now use Fishers Lane as a pedestrian and so avoid the social distancing problem of the very narrow walkway and the traffic along South Parade is not as bad as I'd feared. I just wish both councils would sort out the drainage as the road is always flooded. I do drive but only very occasionally so understand that frequent drivers feel otherwise.

Paul Hughes-Smith ● 1876d

To describe the restrictions at Fisher's Lane as critical to the East Acton to Chiswick cycleway is a bit of a stretch. It is not a bad idea overall but it is a shame that more important aspects of it have not being implemented e.g. safe crossing of Southfield Road but money has been spent on the pointless changes at the end of Rusthall Avenue and the nearby zebra (which I've never seen anyone use).The continued passage of buses through the underpass mean that it remains an intimidating trip for small children so, while it has boosted perceptions of safety on this route it has not led to any fundamental change for cyclists.I remain convinced that the end point of the supposed route at the junction of Fisher's Lane and the High Road is more dangerous than it was before a conviction was bolstered by seeing a cyclist nearly wiped out by a delivery scooter sling shotting around a bus at the bus island stop last week. I am stunned that some people claim that they happily take small children through this junction at the moment as I, as an experienced cyclist am avoiding it.The Fisher's Lane restriction may offer some marginal benefit to a very small subset of children who are confident enough to cycle through the underpass now having not been able to do so before even though there is still a chance of encountering a motor vehicle.The disbenefit to all cyclists including children is that South Parade and Acton Lane more regularly have static traffic. Whatever statistical gymnastics are performed with the available data no reasonable person can argue that this is now a fact. The Steer reports and the daily experience of anyone who uses these roads confirms this to be. Static traffic on these narrow roads renders them dangerous to cyclists and, I would say,  unusable to family groups. As you have to cycle down them to get to Fisher's Lane any benefit of the underpass restriction is negated.

Mark Evans ● 1876d

So we save the environment by encouraging more car journeys? I'm not sure I get that.

Carl Wynne ● 1876d

Carl you completely miss the point, cars are travelling much further than they need too hence fishers lane and I am sure many other road closures across the country are creating many more lengthy journeys hence causing more pollution so bad for the environment!

Jayne Thorburn ● 1876d

Total nonsense. I have started to take pictures of the hourly daily gridlock on south parade and acton Lane to counter the blatant disinformation that the fishers Lane and Turnham Green terrace experiments have not caused total daily logjams.

James Brand ● 1876d

The way I read it the closure isn't encouraging more or less car journeys but the complaint is mostly that each journey is longer and slower. QED worse for the environment.I honestly can't remember ever driving through even when I lived in Bedford  Park but I did walk it a couple of weeks ago.If anything I felt uneasy and exposed in case a bus or stray  vehicle came. Certainly not 'safe'.As a matter of interest I spotted the underpass on an old edition of Minder. Dennis Waterman in his motor gunning through.  Naughty boy. Slapped wrists!

Adrian Irving ● 1876d

"...the complaint is mostly that each journey is longer and slower. QED worse for the environment."Your logic is correct but the complaint is not. The Steer report provides not just data on the number of trips, but also the change in their length, or "directness". The overall number of trips of trips has fallen compared to the Borough average, and their length has decreased, particularly for local trips that end and/or begin north of the High Road. That suggests people were going out of their way to take a longer but faster route along Fishers Lane, and we can agree that removing the restrictions would be worse for the environment.

Tom Pike ● 1876d

Tom we must have been reading differ posts. The ones I read were often complaining longer slower journeys.I am unconvinced that comparing Borough averages to the current situation carries much weight. An average is just the middle point between two extremes and can be very misleading. A more logical comparison before and after the closure may be more enlightening.By the way how does the survey know where journeys start and end? I can't see how this is possible.

Adrian Irving ● 1876d

INRIX is based on in-vehicle GPS so the path of each trip is tracked and can be compared to the distance between the start and end of the trip to get its directness.  I gave the comparison in the Steer report of the directness before and after the restrictions were introduced: trips became more direct on average, that is closer to the shortest possible distance. That average directness is not a midpoint between two extremes, it’s the average of the ratio of the actual trip lengths to the shortest distance for all the trips. As the average directness improved with the restrictions, the trips on average became closer to the shortest possible distance, reducing both pollution and emissions.

Tom Pike ● 1876d

Is that the South Parade filled with gridlocked speeding cars?

Carl Wynne ● 1876d

Eh? An average is a mid point. A ratio is a comparison, beyond that you have lost me.Before and after is still the only true measure in my book.How does that figure? Not too well I guess. All the convolutions you quote don't convince me nor too many others I wager.A straight before/after over a reasonable length of time please.

Adrian Irving ● 1876d

Good for you James. These liars need calling out.

Claire Moran ● 1876d

Carl always misses the point, sadly.

Claire Moran ● 1876d

My reply to Ms Kibble's reply to me:-Where are the air monitors located please?  I assume there are ones on Souh Parade as I almost choked on the pollution from the traffic diverted from the High Road when walking there the other day.  Visiting Chiswick from North of the High Road is now so unpleasant that I now don’t  - everything possible including my weekly food shop is  now done online  although I do feel sorry for the lorry drovers having to negotiate the nightmare that Chiswick has become.  If as you say you can't keep the road closures without the support of residents you will need to reopen them as councils' own surveys show that over 80% are against them.  As you know full well, they are not reducing traffic and pollution, merely displacing it to other residential areas that were not so badly affected before these ludicrous schemes came in. Regards Claire Moran On 3 Sep 2021 09:49, Jo Kibble wrote:Dear resident,Thank you for getting in touch about the Fisher's Lane closure.Ealing Council will be making a decision on the Fishers Lane closure at the Cabinet meeting on 22nd September, with the officer recommended decision published about a week before. The decision will take into account the data available from our own traffic and air quality monitoring, as well as TfL's data on any impact of the trial closure on local bus times. These data will allow us to evaluate the overall impact of the trial scheme.A decision to keep the closure would, with Hounslow's agreement, result in a statutory 21-day consultation on a permanent Traffic Regulation Order. Should the decision be to re-open the road to general traffic, we would seek to do this as soon as possible in conjunction with the neighbouring authority. Ealing's Labour administration is committed to measures that encourage active travel, reduce traffic and vehicle emissions, and make cycling and walking easier for everyone. We are proud that Ealing is a 20mph borough, and that we've been able to confirm a number of permanent cycle schemes and new school streets. The climate crisis means that we need to do more to reduce emissions and traffic, and the council can't do that without the help and support of residents. Best wishes,Cllr Peter Mason Cllr Deirdre Costigan Cllr Josh BlackerLeader of the Council Cabinet member for Climate Action Cabinet member for Healthy Lives

Claire Moran ● 1876d

From INRIX, here's all the travel times for South Parade between The Avenue and Acton Lane. This data covers four weeks during term time in June. 99.7% of vehicles took 3 minutes or less to travel the length of South Parade, hardly daily gridlock.
The iBus data for the 94 service in the Steer report confirms this showing travel times of less than 41/2 minutes throughout the day for the slightly longer stretch from Bath Road to the terminus on Acton Lane.

The Turnham Green restrictions are certainly not causing any logjams — they were removed last year.  

Tom Pike ● 1876d

I spent much of today delivering flowers and plants to people in Southfield and Bedford Park. Many trips by bike through Fishers Lane and along South Parade, up The Avenue and most of the north / south roads from South Parade and Bath Road.Despite the High Road being very busy with slow-moving traffic, the whole area north of Fishers Lane from Acton Lane to Emlyn Road was extremely quiet and tranquil. Barely any cars. None going through Fishers but multiple bikes on every trip. South Parade was clear all day. It seems pretty obvious that the closure of Fishers to motor vehicles has removed the attractiveness of routes across a wide area to through drivers.  People living in that area who think they're blighted with traffic problems should spend some time observing traffic volume and flow south of the High Road and the A4 to understand better just how good they've got it.

Paul Campbell ● 1876d

Are you mad?  A quiet Sunday with no major activity going on and you think that is the status quo for the rest of the week?  Jesus.

Claire Moran ● 1876d

Paul, no cars going through Fishers Lane, why would that be? Fgs As for the rest of it you’re not the first person to try and tell residents of Acton Green that South Parade and Acton Lane aren’t busy. Just because you’ve left your stomping ground briefly on one day.  We live there so who do you think you’re fooling.

Maggie Dodge ● 1876d

The centre of Chiswick is much more congested on a Sunday due to the markets particularly on Flower Market day (not a complaint, I think traffic generated by people coming to see or do something interest is a good thing overall) so in this instance the Fisher's Lane closure actually does protect South Parade and surrounding roads. A blocked High Road also means that traffic is directed away from Chiswick up the north circular so Gunnersbury Lane and Bollo Bridge Road were very busy on the day Paul Campbell was ambling through the empty streets of Bedford Park. However, not every day is a sunny Sunday. One a wet Tuesday morning the picture below shows what is currently happening on South Parade. (Before anyone says Google is unreliable in giving a true picture I walked past the area an hour earlier and can visually confirm this was what was happening.). The picture shows static traffic back to the Fisher's Lane Roundabout on South Parade from the Acton Lane junction with Chiswick High Road.
I've walked this way in the mornings for decades. This sort of traffic is not unprecedent but it was an unusual occurrence before the Fisher's Lane closure but now happens regularly. One has to admire the commitment of people who tirelessly argue that traffic South Parade/Acton Lane hasn't increased even after the council's independent traffic consultants reported that it had but perhaps it is time for them to concede the point? Outside the morning rush South Parade is rarely congested and seems to be able to handle the extra traffic. However, this isn't going to last. The massive amount of building work that is taking place along Bollo Lane means that shortly we are going to start to see a big increase in construction vehicle movements on these roads — Acton Lane/South Parade is one of the few access points to this new area of development. Things will only get worse one the developments are completed with several thousand new residents set to move in over the next decade. The notion that because these developments are 'car free' they won't generate any traffic is a delusion. There are clearly major problems ahead particularly for South Parade and the Fisher's Lane closure is unviable in the longer term. 

Andrew OSullivan ● 1867d

On the basis that closing Fishers Lane to motor traffic was a temporary anti-Covid measure, as Covid restrictions ease, the closure could be removed. But that logic has now been changed, as Fishers Lane's vital role in a designated north-south cycle route has recently been pulled out of Ealing Council's hat, so the 'closure' is likely to stay.  I only hope they clarify and rationalise the road markings on both sides of the bridge to make it clearer to motorists what's required of them, so the restriction actually provides the intended protection to cyclists and pedestrians. Mopping up millions in penalty fines is irresponsible and a sign that the scheme is failing in its purpose.

Peter Evans ● 1867d

Can't we go back to having particular days for deliveries? WE could actually make it better for OURSELVES IF in a street we are getting regular online grocery deliveries that the van delivers to several homes in that street at the same time. I say this after hearing late at night the same supermarket delivery van several nights running.  Obviously this may not work for everyone or everyone all of the time.I suspect that the supermarkets may be better at this though than the many other online couriers?And no, David, I haven't bought anything online for months and months but will be buying a big box of the loo rolls that make me smile soon.

Philippa Bond ● 1867d

We ate in Turnham Green yesterday (46th wedding anniversary). Firstly it’s sad to see the loss of shops and the great number of Estate Agents but generally I thought it was lovely to see it without the ugly planters and a light flow of traffic.  Pleasant to walk down. On our walk there and home I couldn’t help but notice the lack of any cyclist in Fishers Lane, so often the case. No point taking more photos I can’t figure out how to post them on here.  I made a point of really looking at the no vehicle signs, they are woefully inadequate still. There is no real serious attempt to keep this car free is there? So much more could be done. StillI hope it will be reopened soon so …

Maggie Dodge ● 1867d

I was on Acton Lane and South Parade this morning - bit later than you - and it was busy-ish Westbound, but still free flowing traffic in both directions on Acton Lane.  It was pretty empty on South Parade though.I don't dispute it was busier earlier - it is rush hour on a rainy day after all, traffic is always heavier. It is a good point about the new development - thousands more residents will create more traffic, especially at peak times, even if they don't personally own a car.We could just accept that and reopen Fisher's Lane, remove LTNs and other traffic restrictions across North Chiswick and try and fit in as many cars as possible in every minor residential road.We know that won't reduce congestion but increase it and make gridlock more likely as well as worsen air quality everywhere. (Accepted that there are those who deny that, but they are incorrect.)That is a pity for those exposed to COVID with declining immunity as they'll die younger than they would, a real shame for those who develop Alzheimers early and awful for the kids exposed to dangerous levels of pollutants on the school run who have a lifetime of ill health as a result.Or, we could restrict traffic in residential roads, provide infrastructure so that it is safe to walk and cycle for local journeys and look at mechanisms, taxes and charges to encourage fewer commercial deliveries during peak hours and/or switch to zero emission vehicles.  We can do all that and of course on the next rainy day during the middle of rush hour, there will still be queues on Chiswick roads - that's not going to change :-)

Ed Saper ● 1867d

"There is no real serious attempt to keep this car free is there?"The Steer report shows that traffic was down 86% on Fishers Lane in May. So while any increase in traffic, whether or not due to the closure of Fishers Lane, is regarded by a few as "transformational" with residents claimed to be "up in arms", a very clear reduction undeniably due to the closure is so readily dismissed.

Tom Pike ● 1867d

Credit to Andrew where it is due. He has waited 9 days for a rainy morning with extra traffic to respond to my post. Patient and resolute. These are good qualities that are going to be severely tested when one day he finally realises that Fishers lane is just the very tip of the iceberg of pain coming to everybody who believes the priority response of politicians, urban planners and traffic engineers to climate change, pollution and public health should be to continue to pursue the demonstrably unachievable dream of creating free-flowing traffic by opening up all the roads. He clearly didn't learn from his incredulity that road space on main roads would be reallocated to cycle lanes last year.Also notable that the continuing damage of the SUV school run is very apparent on that map. Look at Orchard Road and Duke Road for just two examples and contrast that with the traffic-free Belmont Road. Such a pity that more parents are unwilling to take responsibility for doing something about the major themes their children are being taught about at those schools. Belmont is leading the way.

Paul Campbell ● 1867d

The public health aspect of this is critical but there is no 'one-size fits all' solution to the challenges that we face. Some people believe that shutting roads will ultimately deliver traffic evaporation but the Fisher's Lane closure has not according to Steer and the theory has an illogicality at the heart of it. What always perplexed me about the idea of shutting Fisher's Lane when it was first proposed was why it would be a good idea to direct traffic onto a road where more people lived.  There are 26 houses along Fisher's Lane compared to 31 on the section of South Parade west of Fisher's Lane and Acton Lane between the railway bridge and South Parade plus six large blocks of flats and a children's nursery by the church. There are therefore conservatively three times as many people living in the vicinity of roads that are experiencing extra traffic as a result of Fisher's Lane being restricted than there are benefiting from the part closure. If reducing the exposure of people to the potential of damage to health by exposure to vehicle based emissions is your priority then it makes absolutely no sense to restrict traffic at Fisher's Lane.

Andrew OSullivan ● 1867d

"There are 26 houses along Fisher's Lane"You have missed Homecross House on Fishers Lane. All residents over 60 needing to cross Fishers Lane if they want to walk to the Health Centre, Waitrose, Sainsburys or anywhere west of Fishers Lane. I think they will be benefitting from a less busy road outside their flats.

Sara Collins ● 1867d

The omission was deliberate because I was considering properties directly on the road from the perspective of air pollution and Homecross House is set back. If you expand the radius of affected properties it doesn't really change the ratios that much because for Acton Lane you'd have to consider the Beaconsfield Estate and properties on Hardwicke Road as well as adjacent homes on Fairlawn Grove. The point you make about crossing the road is important but they would be best addressed by a zebra crossing. The designs for the new health centre did give some hope that was this was going to happen.

Andrew OSullivan ● 1867d

The junction of Fishers Lane and CHR had by some margin the highest concentration of pedestrian casualties as a result of collisions with motor vehicles of any location in W4 (Ealing and Hounslow).  No other location comes close. It isn't really a surprise, a high volume of motor vehicles forcing their way through a junction with high pedestrian footfall while trying to look at the road at the same time, many drivers slaloming across the road heading for the Dukes Avenue route to the A4. I'd expect to see a considerable reduction in casualties over time as a result of the closure.

Michael Robinson ● 1867d

Zebra crossings have been asked for at the location but weren't permitted under current UK regulations regarding distances required between zebras and junctions.There have been many calls for these regulations to be changed but they are what they are at the moment.As mentioned, the junction of Fishers Lane and CHR has the worst pedestrian casualty record of any location in Chiswick and a far more effective way of keeping it safer is keeping Fishers Lane closed.

Michael Robinson ● 1867d

In 2019 (the latest year for which the TfL web site gives data) there were three collisions in which people were seriously injured on the stretch Acton Lane on which traffic is currently being diverted due to the Fisher's Lane closure - a motorcyclist, a pedal cyclist and a pedestrian. There were no serious injuries at the junction of Fisher's Lane and CHR.If I recall the reasons given for not putting a crossing in on Fisher's Lane it was that the ADPV2 assessment conclude it did not warrant it because of the level of traffic and number of accidents (this is pre-Fisher's Lane closure). There are guidelines but, as I understand it, no regulation that prevents it happening and it may be that a planning gain from the new medical centre will be a crossing at the junction with Dolman Road

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1867d

Well if we’re worried about the elderly then the cycle lane on the High Road needs to go. It’s really a danger and more so at the floating bus stops. As for caring parents, the chap walking his young child on a bike with stabilisers through Fishers Lane on the road, takes the prize. Relying on the kindness of any bus, cyclists or motor vehicle who missed the signs is certifiable bad parenting. As are others taking very young children on the roads as opposed to the pavement where they’re allowed

Maggie Dodge ● 1867d

Well said, Jeremy and Maggie.  I contacted the address on the poster that to my disgust came through my door this morning and the recipients would have been in no doubt about my views on the matter, as someone who lives North of the High Road. Utter madness.

Claire Moran ● 1867d

A single year of data isn't enough to spot a trend.  Casualty data is available going back to 2005 with latitude/longitude of locations so it is easy to plot the collision 'density' on a map (if you know how...) to see the locations with the highest concentration of collisions.I may have misremembered the reason for rejection.  The Chiswick cllrs subsequently applied for funding and this was rejected basically saying the money wasn't available, see:https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/downloads/file/2111/community_projects_not_recommended_for_cil_funding

Michael Robinson ● 1867d

I have contacted the address on the poster that thankfully came through my door and the recipients would have been in no doubt about my views on the matter, as someone who lives North of the High Road, I am delighted with changes to Fishers Lane. Huge improvement to our neighbourhood - thank you Ealing Council.

Sara Collins ● 1867d

I've gone back to 2015 and there are still more serious collisions on the Acton Lane/South Parade stretch than the road between the underpass and the Fisher's Lane junction with CHR. There is no safety argument for directing traffic onto Acton Lane/South Parade from Fisher's Lane, if anything it is to the contrary.It would be outrageous if there was planning gain funding available from the Health Centre development and this wasn't used to put in a crossing at the Dolman Road junction.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1867d

You can see a 'heat map' plotting the density of collisions from 2005 to 2019 here:https://public.tableau.com/views/W4Casualties/W4Casualties?:language=en-GB&:display_count=n&:origin=viz_share_linkThe junction of Fishers Lane and CHR stands out dramatically.

Michael Robinson ● 1867d

Having negotiated this junction twice at the weekend as a passenger on the 272 I was reminded about the difficulties posed to anyone driving a vehicle.As Michael says there is a lot to deal with. The biggest problem comes from the stream of pedestians who seem to think there is some sort of default crossing there anyway. At a conservative estimate 60% of them now seem to be glued to their phone with never a glance to check it's safe to cross - a situation that abounds wherever you go. I can't believe that cyclists are given any more recognition than drivers were so personally I'd expect the "incidents" to continue.

Bruce Hammal ● 1867d

I’m in agreement with you. It just seems better. The closure of Fishers Lane is a minor inconvenience.

Stewart Jones ● 1867d

I can confirm that many pedestrians don't give way at the Fisher's Lane junction and can get agitated if you are in their way. When approaching this junction turning right I always prefer if there is a car doing the same so I can use it as a shield from pedestrians. It also makes it much more likely traffic on the High Road will give way.There are extra problems at this junction since the Cycleway. Firstly there is an expectation that you shouldn't turn left onto the main traffic lane, instead you should cross the queues of cars and buses, secondly if there is a bus waiting at the bus island near the junction some people will try to overtake it at speed particularly delivery drivers on mopeds. On the other hand the removal of the left hand turn on Duke Road has provided one less thing to worry about when you are using this junction to turn right.

Mark Evans ● 1866d

Totally agree about the Fisher's Lane junction on a bike. What I do now is cut through Arnott Close and dismount at Clifton Gardens and cross on foot at the lights. Just in the interest of balance following my post yesterday about the congestion on South Parade in the morning, I should point out that the road was clear at the same time today. However, for those claiming the congestion yesterday was due to the rain, there were queues yesterday evening back to Rusthall Avenue when I got back from work.

Andrew OSullivan ● 1866d

"I can confirm that many pedestrians don't give way"That includes me. I'm not waiting for anyone to move forward and sit blocking me from crossing while the driver waits to try and move outwards to turn. As no car in my view is going at any speed I just cross and expect the driver to react. They do, most actually give way.But then I'm one of those who does not exactly obey the green man either. I know how the lights work for instance at the junction of TGT and CHR so with looking in the right direction do cross knowing I have a good 5 secs head start once the cars have stopped on red and the next phase of cars start moving on the change knowing that applies to only half the road when crossing. Or if a car is not turning left into TGT and going straight in an east direction I know any car turning right into TGT can not so gives me that time to cross TGT or once the cars stop at TGT to turn into CHR i know that i have a good 3-4 secs to cross before the cars exit Annandale road in the next phase. All done with checking and caution mind you I would not recommend it to all, however, I'm certainly not the only one who has got to grips with the phasing and does not want to stand around for 3 phases of directional traffic before for the Green man comes on.

Julian Pavey ● 1866d

Just to clarify my own post — when I returned home yesterday there was no rain yet there were tailbacks onto South Parade. I'm not saying this is now the norm. Most of the time — even during rush hour traffic flows quite freely on South Parade although it is often congested on Acton Lane. Based on a very limited number of observations since schools returned the tailbacks appear to be reaching South Parade more often but it is too early to reach a firm conclusion.

Andrew OSullivan ● 1866d

Yes, the application for the new health centre includes the three zebra crossings at the triangle at the confluence of Dolman Road with Fishers Lane.  When I met the developer's team to learn about the proposals, I asked if the zebras could be included and there was an immediate recognition of the logic of installing them at the same time, and the small extra costs overall of doing so.  They had not been installed before because Hounslow council's transport department couldn't find the £70,000 it said it would cost. The issue sat on the tracking list of issues in Chiswick for many years - starting long before the 2018 elections - but are now in the plans.

Joanna Biddolph ● 1865d

Om the subject of congestion on South Parade and Acton Lane.  Is it at all likely that the closure of Fishers Lane wouldn't have a  knock on effect? Albeit some days more so than others. Is it relevant that only a few cyclists seem to be using it?  Lots of cyclists through the parks there though, presumably not turning in to FL though.

Maggie Dodge ● 1864d

Plenty of cyclists are using it. Three when I went though last night at once. And South Parade clear heading out of London at rush hour tonight. What's not to like?

John Hall ● 1864d

WHAT....... ?  Repetitive boredom from all Great, doctors take orders between 8-9 am

Julian Pavey ● 1864d

3? Well that’s a start. I think, in fairness,  it needs to be a steady flow of cyclists, to justify closing FL to cars. The number of fines issued is a small indication of the motorist being diverted from this essential route.

Maggie Dodge ● 1864d