Hi Tom, interesting anecdote. I first went to Barnes over 30 years ago, Sunday lunch at the Sun Inn was a regular thing, though I admit one of a couple of friends took it turn to drive. It was always packed, reservations a must, and in good weather the green opposite was always super busy. Indeed the whole area always seemed to be 'buzzing'. Barnes has a long standing appeal.So its quite hard to see and facts or data in your view. I am sure some on Castelnau might like a large, wide road being closed to nearly all traffic. But then some weekends, as I am sure you must also know, the queue to reach Chiswick bridge can reach back along Lower Richmond Rd along Mortlake High st to reach as far as Barnes Railway bridge. So always winners and losers in these things. What we dont have is any sense of a coherent plan to manage traffic and road use across London. As we see with the recent traffic gridlock in W4, there are too many commuters who drive into London every day. With Elizabeth line now open and the excellent public transport in London, its time for a proper plan to address this.
Bill George ● 531d