Forum Topic

Hollowing out of Chiswick

The hollowing out of Chiswick goes on apace...We have now lost four banks, four post offices, a police station and many useful shops (Poundland is the latest) and some restaurants in recent years. This is hardly offset by the spread of coffee shops and estate agencies and the proliferation of cycle paths. The one bright development has been the opening of Chiswick Cinema - a great local facility.My suspicion is that this hollowinmg out is because Chiswick is a mere footnote to Hounslow, and an unknown distant cousin to Ealing/Acton and Fulham & Hammersmith. The cost-cutters just see Chiswick as an easy, low-hanging picking. All very sad.

Robin Knight ● 30d81 Comments

Steve, are you not able to read the stats? They give figures for every day. The survey gives a measure of footfall based on the number of people with active mobile phones passing three specific points in central Richmond - every person counted is not shopping and it doesn’t count every shopper. But clearly the retailers of Richmond thought it a useful measure to assess the change in the level of customers or they would not have paid for it.You don’t need to count every person in Richmond, just a representative sample, to get a good estimate of any change. DfT use a similar approach - they don’t count every bike or car on the road to estimate traffic levels - and you seem satisfied with their approach.  Why not here?Retail is clearly in trouble in Richmond, whether or not you are able to recognise it.

Tom Pike ● 19d

So how do YOU account for the hollowing out of Chiswick or are you just in denial?

Steve Taylor ● 19d

'Richmond...who don’t have to worry about dodging bicycles on pavements.'It's such an irony that Richmond town centre, with its narrow pavements, has no problem with people cycling on them, while Chiswick with its wide pavements of which we are so proud, has to fight them off.

Peter Evans ● 19d

Last time I looked (earlier this week) there were 4 banks in Chiswick, though like bicycles they may be invisible for you

Guy Lambert ● 19d

The ‘facts’ as you call them are tainted stats. If a company can make such a massive ‘typo’ who can trust them. And the stats taken from mobile phone signals are flawed because thousands of visitors to Richmond have roaming switched off. Not to mention all the people who don’t have mobile phones. And there are still 4 Banks and a Post Office in Richmond. Remind me again how many have survived in Chiswick!

Steve Taylor ● 20d

That typo is not from surveying company - it’s from the BID who commissioned the survey. Again your personal take, whether it be bikes along C9, the level of cycling in London or footfall in Richmond, is at odds with the facts.

Tom Pike ● 20d

For a company whose ONLY function is to produce stats, a typo of this serious nature would call into question the accuracy of its stats. Clearly Richmond is thriving and this is apparent to all who visit. Restaurants, coffee shops, clothes shops - all have regular flow of customers.

Steve Taylor ● 20d

The data for every day in May is shown andThursday 1 May had the highest footfall. 265 is clearly a typo.Richmond, despite all the car parking, is seeing a significant retail decline according to these numbers.

Tom Pike ● 20d

“ This is done minute by minute, day by day 265 days a year.”Interesting that they only monitor footfall on weekdays when weekends would produce the highest footfall.

Steve Taylor ● 20d

The last time we went to Richmond to recce using it as a meeting place for old friends (having had a successful and enjoyable meet up there in the past) we were very disappointed as it was choked with cars and buses - and we just haven't found a reason to go back.More people are buying online now and that increased during the pandemic and has will continue with a younger buying public - and large items were always going to be delivered - and so long as there is a showroom somewhere where things can be viewed first if wanted that option is still there.  Many people with higher utility bills and work worries will also be being more cautious with their spending.

Philippa Bond ● 20d

May’s footfall figures are even worse:https://berichmond.london/member-support/footfallFootfall to for this year to date is down 28% and new visitors have more than halved.

Tom Pike ● 20d

Nonsense. Richmond retail is thriving and the high street is packed with happy shoppers who don’t have to worry about doing dodging bicycles on pavements. “ Richmond upon Thames is cited as London's happiest place to live, and it's been ranked second nationally in the Rightmove's Happy at Home Index. The index is based on resident feedback and considers factors like local amenities, friendliness of residents, and access to green spaces.”

Steve Taylor ● 20d

Richmond retail is in a bad way. The latest footfall figures show a 24% year-on-year decline and on top of that the proportion of new visitors has fallen from 25% to 18%, that's nearly halving.If you are right that Richmond is much more reliant on cars for its customers, it is suffering as a consequence.

Tom Pike ● 22d

And yet traders on the High Road are failing. Cyclists aren’t buying in bulk.They can’t transport goods on their bikes. Bikes have very limited capacity for ‘goods’. High Roads need plenty of parking for cars. The cycle lanes prevent parking. It’s blatantly obvious. People are spending real money in Retail Parks or places like Richmond where there is plenty of parking. People are spending pocket money on High Roads like Chiswick. Nice if you only want a coffee and a slice of lemon drizzle cake.

Steve Taylor ● 22d

And yet there’s more footfall on the High Road. The big increase in traffic on the High Road during shopping hours has been people on bikes.

Tom Pike ● 22d

And those 6 to 7000 cars  a day obviously aren’t stopping to shop because the cycle lanes have taken away parking. Hence the hollowing out of Chiswick.

Steve Taylor ● 23d

Here's the variation in cycle counts on C9 last June. 

Tom Pike ● 23d

We have continuous camera monitoring along C9. A year ago, on Monday 3 June, the total bike count on C9 was 3540, with 123 between 12 and 1, and a peak hourly count of 408 between 8 and 9. In 2023, on Monday 5 June the total count was 3135, with 109 from 12 to 1 and a peak hourly count of 359 between 8 and 9. That's a 13% annual growth in all bike counts.We don't have the bike counts for today yet, but happy to bet they'll be well over 3000 again, and possibly pushing 4000. For comparison, there's around 6000 to 7000 cars a day on the High Road.

Tom Pike ● 23d

I was shopping on the high street today,about 40 mins going in and out of shops.3 cyclists seen on cycle lane and the typical one on the footpath,weaving in and out of pedestrians.

Keith Iddon ● 23d

I agree - I was shopping in the High Rd  around Noon today as I usually do and saw only 2 bicycles and have never seen more than three even when driving up from Hammersmith.It may well be different in the Rush Hour but if so, I don't understand why the restriction is not limited to those times, in a similar way to the bus lanes in the Fulham Palace Rd.

Joy Skinner ● 23d

The cycling lanes are a waste of space and money and ruin the economy of the High Street. Shoppers want and need parking or they will shop in areas not ruined by unused cycle lanes

Steve Taylor ● 24d

whats the post office closing got to do with cycling'.....and the proliferation of cycle paths.' Direct quote from your first post but at least you are now admitting the hollowing out has got nothing to do with a cycle lane.

Tony Mansell ● 24d

even if cycling has declined, SO What?

Tony Mansell ● 24d

I think it's a lot to do with the greedy commercial property owners who demand rents far beyond anything where common sense was a good choice of words, but obviously not in the commercial property rental business. Several years ago, the Spelt Bread shop was paying 100k per year in rent for a really little shop/premise. Why businesses chose to come to Chiswick knowing the extortionate rents that would ruin any profits in the first week of opening. Legislation is needed surely, to curb these money grabbing commercial property owners.

Carl Johns ● 24d

Good point!We lost our Post Office in Brentford a few years ago. Then the PO found a convenuence store to take on a Post Office franchise, so we now have a Post Office or at least the majority of their services. We have also lost bothe the banks we recently had in Chiswick. I have been banking with Nationwide for 20 years> I'm pleased there is still a branch in Chiswick, but frankly I have hardly ever visited the branch, and the last time (probably 10 years ago) I did it was to deposit a dollar cheque. They told me they did not offer that service any more. I finally had to use the Credit Union to deal with my cheque.

Guy Lambert ● 24d

What has bicycling got to do with the closure of the Post Office and other examples of the hollowing out of essential services in Chiswick?The latest message May 30 from the PO re the Heathfield Terrace branch is not encouraging. Sign the petition and get engaged instead of squabbling about cycle use! In my experience, the great majority of those using the Heathfield Terrace PO got there on foot.

Robin Knight ● 24d

https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/life/19032025-london-sees-surge-in-bike-use-despite-wider-declineSubscription bike use is up.  Hopefully younger generations will have better and healthier lifestyles.  There has been at least one generation who have not really cycled because of being crowded out by other traffic.

Philippa Bond ● 24d

Yes but cycling has declined by 6% irrespective of whether people are buying new bikes or second hand or using old bikes or hired bikes. Cycling has declined in England.

Steve Taylor ● 25d

Nobody wants to buy a new cycle every year!  There is a growth and an expansion in the use of cycles for hire where people not only don't have to worry about having their bikes stolen but also don't need to have a safe and secure space to keep them.

Philippa Bond ● 25d

So you accept that the DfT figures show that cycling is increasing in London, and is now one third above 2019 levels? DfT regional figures for London:1993 2721000001994 2784000001995 2833000001996 2901000001997 2891000001998 2744000001999 2809000002000 2851000002001 3032000002002 3120000002003 3370000002004 3244000002005 3652000002006 3926000002007 3641000002008 3859000002009 3900000002010 3958000002011 3921000002012 3956000002013 3741000002014 4112000002015 4085000002016 5063000002017 5005000002018 5180000002019 4678000002020 6977000002021 6472000002022 6058000002023 627800000London saw an average of £24 per head spending on cycling infrastructure in the 5 years after from 2016 to 2021 while the rest of the county saw £10 a head. Comparing the year after this period of spending to the year before, 2022 to 2015, cycling in London grew by 48% compared to 11% for the rest of the country. I presume you accept these figures as well.

Tom Pike ● 25d

Yes of course it’s not really rocket science to understand that cycling on the path from Brentford to Feltham you are most likely travelling at similar speeds to other cyclists so you are hardly likely to see others in front of you or behind you. Naturally a car driver will see all cyclists on the road as they duck and dive amongst traffic.

Steve Taylor ● 25d

Oh dear, oh dear, now Mansell thinks that quoting facts is being personal. Very Trumpian and narcissistic actually. Why is it that narcissists just can’t handle the truth and accept facts. Sad!

Steve Taylor ● 25d

THis comes from the correspondent who claims nearly all cyclists on the A4 use the road rather than the cycle lane. A couple of years ago I cycled frombrentford to Feltham via the A4. It was not entirely scientific because I just counted them in my head as they cycled past. Apart from a couple of junctions (EG Syon Lane, Ealing Road) where the cycle lane disappears, I saw 1 cyclist using the A4 (he was turning off at Vicarage Farm Road). More than 100 were using the cycle lane but they were wearing invisibility cloaks (but I have a superpower - I can see cyclists!)

Guy Lambert ● 25d

urgh Steve Taylor you are one poor effort of a human being. Maybe go for a walk or perhaps a cycle. It will stop you being  so personal when your arguments are so weak. It wont stop you being wrong but it might make you realise that our streets are for everyone not just car drivers. The sky is not just for planes and the soil not just to put tarmac on. If you dont like the fact that London is for everyone not just the majority then i suggest you go. Because we are not

Tony Mansell ● 25d

“ Although kids cycling participation stabilised in 2024 with 21% aged 5-16 riding a bike, according to Sport England, levels are however still 6% points lower than 2018-19 and sales fell again last year and are now around a third less than pre-Covid levels.11 Mar 2025”

Steve Taylor ● 25d

“ While there was a boom in cycling during the pandemic, recent data indicates a decline in cycling rates in many parts of the world, including England.”

Steve Taylor ● 25d

Cycling numbers are increasing in London, the area of the UK with the best provision of cycling infrastructure, quite the contrary to your claims. You can confirm this for yourself in the DfT figures you cite elsewhere.

Tom Pike ● 25d

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/22/bicycle-sales-plummet-to-lowest-in-a-century/

Steve Taylor ● 25d

We have statistics for traffic in London that go back nearly 90 years: the Thames Screenline traffic count is taken every two years on every bridge across the Thames. The survey was done by the Metropolitan police originally, then the Ministry forTransport and from 2000 by TfL. It counts the number of vehicles, including bikes, on every bridge across the Thames.Recently, as well as counts taken back to the 1980s, some data came to light from a couple of years in the 1930s: https://alexinthecities.co.uk/2025/05/cycling-in-london-changing-patterns-across-the-thames/If we combine these datasets we can see how the number of cyclists crossing the Thames has changed back to the 1935. Far from in decline, cycling in London is increasing very rapidly, and is at historically unprecedented levels.  

Tom Pike ● 25d

https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/life/19032025-london-sees-surge-in-bike-use-despite-wider-declineIt's no surprise that commuting by bike has declined. Just like commuting by any other meanshttps://www.swlondoner.co.uk/life/23012025-how-londons-commuter-travel-has-changed-since-the-pandemicANybody who has eyes in their head and lives in Brentford or Chiswick can see the considerable growth in cycling since the C9 was installed

Guy Lambert ● 25d

And the source for your claims? And please try and refrain from more infantile insults.

Mark Frost ● 26d

Come back when you’ve studied the stats, dimwit. Government seriously worried about decline in cycling and the vast overspends on cycle lanes by Labour Councils now on the verge of bankruptcy. It’s astounding how Labour Councils have wasted so much money. Lib Dem’s also guilty of incredible waste on unused cycle lanes.

Steve Taylor ● 26d

Another fine post Steve, crammed, as ever, with insults and deflection.

Mark Frost ● 26d

“ The only report I have seen is yours.”Of course it is because you are too dim  to understand the DfT stats and figures or read the parliamentary debates on the decline in cycling across the nation. Here’s a clue: try googling  ‘Decline in cycling’.  It’s not only the UK btw.

Steve Taylor ● 26d

The post office on Askew Rd is at the southern end, just around the corner from the Co-op at the Askew Rd/Goldhawk Rd junction.A minute or so walk from the 94 and 237 bus stop.

Michael Robinson ● 26d

Keith, with food places, they often need to top up on supplies and oftenhave to purchase from stalls etc., who only take cash payments, with therebeing fewer bank counters etc to obtain cash, they will ask customers to pay with cash, that's what was explained to me recently.

Janice Evans ● 26d

I'm told there is a Post Office in Askew Rd. Anyone know where it is?One of the owners of the PO at 170 King St., implied to me that the Heathfield Terrace PO may well reopen. It all seems to be about arguments over the cost of a short term lease. Sounded as though the building may be redeveloped within the next 5-10 years.

Robin Knight ● 26d

It's about six bicycles equals one car space parking.  If anyone wants to buy anything big surely they get it delivered nowadays - just as they would have done in the past.  There must be a lot more deliveries of ordinary food shopping leaving more time for anything else needing/wanting more time to be spent on it on the High Road.  Going to the bank or Post Office is a much more pressing reason to go there than a coffee though!

Philippa Bond ● 26d

The only report I have seen is yours. Did you use the cycle lane Steve, to collect your takeaway?

Mark Frost ● 26d

It’s interesting that the reported decline in cycling is very evident when I am out and about.

Steve Taylor ● 26d

Yeah,right...

Keith Iddon ● 26d

I don’t have my food delivered by UberEats, I cycle to collect it myself on the very rare occasions we have take always. Not sure why you spread lies about me.

Steve Taylor ● 26d

Plenty would dispute your figures Steve, though true to form you haven't provided any.And from the man who wants his delicious food delivered by uber eats.

Mark Frost ● 27d

Yes indeed. The cycle paths have removed car parking spaces so serious shoppers can’t park to buy larger or heavier items hence many don’t even bother with the High Street anymore; they head straight to Retail Parks which offer plenty of parking. The High Street will soon be a haven for only coffee shops, barbers, nail bars and pop ups. The cycle paths are still largely unused.

Steve Taylor ● 27d

Cash only at the fruit n veg stall in front of Sainsburys, and the little Thai food store didn't have the facility to accept payment by card last time I went in.

Jan Porter ● 27d

'proliferation of cycle paths'yes god forbid people get out of their cars and cycle to the shops rather than clogging up the roads. You want more hollowing out, allow more cars and only carsjunk post

Tony Mansell ● 27d

Nowhere near big enough for their current footplate requirement and no beer garden which is a prerequisite for new sites.

Mark Talbot ● 27d

Well Mark, the empty space that was Rock & Rose is plenty big enough, and ready to be taken over should 'Spoons take the gamble.

Denis I. Fox ● 28d

Where Spoons were is now Piano Bar. Far too small for how the brand evolved and like several early generation Spoons closed it. They’d open in a heartbeat in W4 if big enough venue became available.

Mark Talbot ● 28d

I agree with your assertation that Wetherspoons are not generally noted for their unruliness. J.J.Moons actually opened a 'Spoons in CHR I recall in the middle 90s, and I remember being invited to a couple of enjoyable opening nights at the time.The establishment, despite serving decent cheap meals and beer never really took off and finished trading before too long.My feelings then were that Sir Tim Martin's gifts to the nation were not suitable to gentrified Chiswickia. 

Denis I. Fox ● 29d

Well, they always did, but his reason for arguing with me and telling me he wanted cash only was the cost of using the machine for every transaction. Then, minutes later, he said people were not spending. Aha ? I did pop the question to him .Make up your own mind over why, suddenly, it's cash only.Those machines cost pennies per transaction now, which is why small independents even take cards for a 4 pints of milk now, unlike the days of £5 min spend.Insisting cash will only drive people away, just like me and others alike. Plus, he was argumentative and rude because I refused to get cash for my order.

Julian Pavey ● 29d

“ curious proliferation”Not so curious. Rumour has it that many of these pop ups are cash only for money laundering and exploitation of illegal immigrants working in the black economy.

Steve Taylor ● 29d

Did a quick survey of the High Road: in very recent times we have the new Hound pub, the Malis restaurant, the Lavent Borek eatery, Wren kitchens and the upcoming expansion of M&S. Not forgetting the new health centre (if not quite on the High Road).Is it fairer to say - as with the nation as a whole and, arguably, as with global civilisation more broadly - the High Road is in a state of flux?If peoples' concerns about the absence of bank facilities has legitimacy, do you suppose a one-size-fits all banking facility may appear soon (possibly similar to the Banking Hub in Acton)?

Charles Vessey ● 29d

I wonder why,in view of the fact that there are no local banks now,any shop would want to trade only in cash.There is nowhere convenient to pay in the days's takings after all.Make you wonder,doesn't it?

Keith Iddon ● 29d

Well, no one said that the loss of banks etc was the fault of Hounslow Council - but the fact that Chiswick has monority representation on the council and is not Labour-dominated can't help. I do think the council should have done far more to fight the Met over the closure of the Chiswick police station however. And the fact remains that the post office is unlikely to reopen. The only one near by now is at 170 King's St in Hammersmith - a tiny branch with just two people running it. I had to queue in the street even to get in the other day. No one has mentioned the curious proliferation of Turkish/Kurdish owned barbers in the High Rd (most recentlythe Greek Cypriot Chris sold up to Kurds). Yes...much more business is now done online. But fast food outlets, nail salons, coffee shops etc do not in my view make up for the loss of core facilties in Chiswick such as the post office.

Robin Knight ● 29d

I genuinely don't think thats correct.  On Devonshire Road, several new shops have opened, or are about to open, this year; a fantastic bakery, a lovely dog groomers/gift shop, a quirky coffee/cup cake shop and what looks like a great Afghan/Pakistani take away.  Also I understand the recently vacated Chiswick Pet store is already under offer.  Its a shame about some of the banks (there were too many) and a big shame about the PO (lets see if it reopens) but the High Road, TGT and Devonshire Road have far fewer empty shops than most high streets.  Just make sure you use them!

Paul Phillips ● 29d

What do do you reckon are the reasons that these 'cash only' places don't accept cards?

Keith Iddon ● 29d

The kebab shop on Askew Road started taking card payments in the last month or two.

Andrew Jones ● 29d

Yes Chris fish and chips asked me for cash Last Friday.?

John Kennedy ● 29d

Kebab shop on Askew road, also cash only. Won't be getting mine.

Mark Frost ● 29d

Adding to Robin’s point, I was sorry to see that LA Gear will be closing after 34 years in TGT. What’s the betting on another charity shop moving in whilst the landlord tries to find another tenant.

Kevin Mitchell ● 29d

"There is also Chris's chippy just off the high st,and pretty good it is too." Yeh, that's the place that insisted I pay cash and got very shirty with me. I later found out my youngest visited Chris's for her and mum and herself, only to have to leave and get cash from the cashpoint as he insisted yet again on cash only. It was once a good fish and chip shop run by departed Chris, whom I used to speak to in William Hills now and then. The place can...well, you know what I mean. The way he argued and spoke to me deserves all that is coming. Local community my a**e

Julian Pavey ● 30d

I can't see how a 'spoons is particularly noisy.There is music or bands and no quiz nights,no use of any amplified sound and no sports tv.Just people enjoying a very reasonably priced drink.There is also Chris's chippy just off the high st,and pretty good it is too.

Keith Iddon ● 30d

There's West Kebab who do Fish and Chips.It even featured recently in the Netflix drama Scoop.

Andrew Jones ● 30d

Am I alone in CHR not having a McDonald's (litter), a Wetherspoon's (noisy), nor a Fish & chippy (smelly)?

Denis I. Fox ● 30d

Part of the attraction of Chiswick is that it isn't like Ealing Broadway or Hammersmith Town Centre.An (unfortunate) flip-side of that coin is now the fact that the banks (with the exception of Nationwide and Metro Bank) are minded to shut branches in the quieter places.Even Hammersmith isn't immune, HSBC will be shutting in July.Back in the 70s I remember Ealing Common had at least 3 Banks, NatWest, Midland and one other.

Andrew Jones ● 30d

Those were the days.

Keith Iddon ● 30d

I remember when your Sunday walk down CHR was a few people walking around, and everywhere was shut except the churches

Julian Pavey ● 30d

Change is change, all over London and the south east.Chiswick is busier and vibrant than ever before. Bank closures in the last 10 years: 7000Post office closures over the last ten years: 6,700Im not sure its all down to hounslow council.

Julian Pavey ● 30d

I didn't say or imply any such thing Mr. Frost. But surely you can see what is going on? Do you disagree on principle?

Robin Knight ● 30d

All the examples you have given were consumer based not driven by some clandestine entity, hell bent on destruction.

Mark Frost ● 30d