Council told to reconsider Chiswick road schemes
https://hounslowherald.com/council-told-to-reconsider-chiswick-road-schemes-p13664-95.htmHounslow Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee has told the council to reconsider its controversial decision to make several Streetspace schemes in Chiswick permanent.The decision came as over a hundred Chiswick residents joined a protest outside of the council’s chambers against the schemes. The influential committee, which is made up of both Labour and Conservative councillors from across Hounslow, found that the decision to make several Streetspace schemes permanent ‘was made without adequate consultation, lacked evidence and data to support the decision and was potentially open to a human right’s challenge’. In delivering their verdict, Committee Chair Cllr Daanish Saeed (Labour) expressed the sense of resentment held against the proposals. She said that in recent weeks she had spent many trips to Chiswick as a passenger with other drivers and in having asked for their opinion she said, “Unfortunately, many of them I can’t repeat here today.” She added, “We definitely need to have more consultation.”Cllr Gurmail Lal (Labour) was more critical of the detail in the council’s decision. “The answer we have at the moment in no way addresses the concerns given to me by residents.” He went on to say, “This project has caused a lot of stress and anxiety and misery for the residents”, adding, “It has caused too much grief.” The Labour cabinet will now have to reconsider the schemes at its next meeting.“We’re pleased that the committee accepted our arguments against the ill-thought through decision to make several controversial Streetspace schemes permanent,” said Chiswick Riverside Councillor, and Conservative Spokesperson for Traffic and Transport, Sam Hearn. “The changes imposed by Hounslow’s Labour council will have had a ruinous effect on local businesses if they are made permanent, as well as discriminating against vulnerable residents who rely on fettered access by road to receive deliveries, essential care services and visitors.” The Conservative challenge focussed on decisions by the council to permanently restrict access to the A316 from Burlington Lane and limit access all day on the eastern section of Staveley Road. Whilst deliberating, members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee also remarked that they had been ‘overwhelmed’ by the number of emails from Chiswick residents who opposed the scheme. “These schemes, if made permanent, will restrict residents access to many local facilities, including two doctor’s surgeries, a vital pharmacy, Chiswick rail station and parades of local shops,” said Conservative Chiswick Homefields Councillor John Todd. “The very fact the council attempted to make token changes to these schemes at the eleventh hour to avoid this decision shows that there was an acknowledgement of a strong case against the council’s decision. I hope the cabinet now reflects on the recommendations of the committee and rethinks these disastrously implemented schemes.”At the protest around 150 people made their point to councillors with placards and chants. Approximately 40 were then able to attend the meeting, where local councillors John Todd and Sam Hearn outlined the unconstitutional nature of the council’s decision. Pointed observations were made as to the ‘severe impact’ it was having, and would continue to have, on the lives of residents and business, not only in Grove Park, but also those east of the A316 and in other areas of Chiswick, for example in accessing services such as doctors, vets and the rail station. They also indicated how residents and visitors could no longer rely on taxis entering the area to pick them up, particularly at night.In support of the two local councillors, two residents left in disgust, telling the committee members that Hounslow Council had ‘no understanding of disability or Chiswick nor the impact these schemes were having on their lives’.Those opposed to the measures say that in defending the proposals, Cllr Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Communities and Climate Emergency, raised ‘incredulous laughter’ in the room when she said that from their consultation, ‘we know that people are generally in favour of these type of measures’. The council’s own consultation report by traffic experts Steer indicated that up to 88% of respondents opposed the measures being proposed in the Chief Officer Decision.Deputy Chair of the Committee, Cllr Richard Foote said, “They need to design a scheme where individuals are part of the solution, not just part of the problem.” In hearing the decision, Park Road Neighbours said, “We are grateful to Cllr Saeed and all of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their careful consideration of this decision, and for the tireless work of our local councillors, especially John Todd and Sam Hearn.“Hounslow Council, and particularly Cabinet members Hanif Kahn and Katherine Dunne, have made a big play that they have listened to local residents. The Committee could clearly see tonight that they hadn’t. “We hope that they will now listen, but we were disappointed to see that Cllrs Khan and Dunne, and Jefferson Nwokeoma (Assistant Director of Traffic & Transport), all left the meeting this evening before the Committee’s recommendations were heard. I’m afraid we still need to see a sea-change in the way Hounslow’s Cabinet treats the residents of Chiswick.” The Labour cabinet must now choose whether to accept the impartial committee’s recommendations to consult residents and representatives ‘properly on these schemes and improve the level and quality of data collected’.
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