Forum Topic

Midhurst Road traffic calming madness

http://www.ealingtoday.co.uk/default.asp?section=info&page=conroad008.htmBell and Sabiers would never gat away with this in Southall.The death knell for some small Northfields businesses which will see a massive reduction in passing trade from south (actually west) of Midhurst Road.Roll on 2022.

N V Brooks ● 1741d18 Comments

That's an excellent suggestion. There will be inevitable official inertia in unwinding these schemes once the trial period is over even if they self-evidently haven't worked as they should. The big problem with a lack of formal consultation is no clear objectives have been set and there is no base data to work with. This gives council officers the scope to cherry pick data they may only have to provide evidence that the schemes are working. The way to counter this is not by a general claim that traffic has got worse but with specific information about comparative traffic levels including dates and times.

Gordon Southwell ● 1733d

They will ignore the petition.What one person has suggested to me if you are in an affected road is to save a number of time stamped images from Google Maps with the traffic function on. Then, if at the same time of day after the closures have been implemented there is congestion where there hadn't been before, take another image - this should have lots of red and black lines on the road rather than the usual green. Only independently gathered evidence is likely to work as the council will present their data in the way that best supports their case.

Tricia Arbuthnot ● 1734d

Please sign the petition here:https://www.change.org/p/ealing-council-objection-to-ealing-s-lower-traffic-neighbourhood-ltnsWe really need full consultation based on accurate traffic flow data not something fantasised by Cllr. Sabiers from his home in Acton.

N V Brooks ● 1737d

http://ealingnewsextra.co.uk/around-ealing/

Philippa Bond ● 1737d

There’s widespread anger around the neighbourhoods. Mr Bell might have a problem if he puts out a genuine consultation.

Simon Hayes ● 1738d

Reading the Dear Leader's dictat in the online version of Pravda, sorry Around Ealing, yeasterday and residents affected by this lunacy will get a whole ONE WEEK'S notice of closure.

N V Brooks ● 1738d

I’m told that the roads south of Little Ealing Lane will have traffic surveys carried out and the cost of these has been incorporated in the funding.I’ve asked for details of dates, times and durations though I suspect nothing will be forthcoming. There’s barely any traffic in the Junction Road area at the moment. Not much outside rush hour at best of times and even then usually only during term time with the drop offs at Mount Carmel.I’ve also asked for reassurance that the six month consultation will be properly worded. However I expect it’ll be a stitch up.

Simon Hayes ● 1739d

Look this lot will and are going to do it unless some clever lawyer defends democracy and pulls off a victory.I have money for that in my pocket. I haven't calculated the fall in my house price if this comes in in my road. I was expecting to die here but I may have to move. Any ideas?Other option is to fight.Now I have written to Caroline Pidgeon. She or Rupa may be our Jean D'Arc. Just beware of the "its only experimental we'll take it away in 6 months if it doesn't work."My foot they will.They are not listening now when they are at the bottom of the hill. Look out for the discarded deaf aids when they are at the top.

Arthur Breens ● 1740d

I use Erlesmere Gardens/Salisbury Road every day both eastbound and westbound.I encounter one or two cars at worst.Residents should ask to see detailed traffic surveys that justify this debacle.I agree that Swyncombe is poorly lit and will be far too narrow for the extra traffic that is going to be 'poured down it'.

N V Brooks ● 1740d

It’s worth pointing out that Swyncombe is a notorious accident black spot. At least five big accidents I’m aware of on that short stretch of road in the past couple of years. The road is narrow with vehicles parked either side, poorly lit and feeds in traffic from two major routes.

Simon Hayes ● 1740d

The outcome of this will be more pollution, nore traffic jams and more road rage.  My journey to our office in Boundary House on Boston Road from Cranmer Avenue usually takes less than 5 minutes, along Midhurst to Haslemere Avenue and left onto Boston Road  Now it appears I will have to get onto Northfield Avenue up to the Uxbridge Road along to Hanwell and down Boston Manor Road. I may have missed the fact that there maybe somewhere I can cut across but this is madness.  I do walk when I can but if there is stuff to transport then I need to drive. I do avoid rush hour but this morning at 10 am I only passed two cars in Midhurst before the turning into Haslemere Avenue.  What rat run !!! The other option  will be to go down Swyncombe Avenue which will then become even more congested than it is already.

Carol Atkinson ● 1740d

How long before the 'usual suspects' come trotting along to claim that Ealing wouldn't have to sell anything 'if it wasn't for Tory cuts'?This pathetic excuse for an administration (and its supporters) is lining up massive costs for local taxpayers, notably with Victoria Hall where they will either spend £000's fighting the Charity Commission or paying off the developer with whom they signed an ill-considered deal.Still, it's not their money is it?If Bell, Babiers et al were liable for the losses the spending plans would look VERY different.

N V Brooks ● 1740d

That’s the trouble. They get unequivocal support from other areas to ignore losing one or two councillors here. Personally, getting shot of Driscoll and Block would be a boon for Northfields as neither is capable of independent thought (notably on our library).What will be interesting will be any fallout from some of the dubious planning applications they are pursuing. The Town Hall deal looks precarious and has cost a fortune already, so they can’t blame that on Tory cuts, while Gurnell is another huge banana skin waiting for them.

Simon Hayes ● 1740d

From local Labour pals  Bell and his clique see 6-8 of their ward councillors as completely expendable in this part of the borough.

Raymond Havelock ● 1740d

Spot on Simon.These proposals will increase pollution are not experimental are rushed and will be rushed in whatever the objections. This is a very undemocratic move from Labour which purports to be a "SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY".We'll see the headlines "LABOUR lose WALPOLE AND NORTHFIELD WARDS" after the next election.

Arthur Breens ● 1740d

In his video conference with Mason, Taylor et al last week, selling out Ealing abroad, Bell stated that his aim was to make these proposals permanent. Not after a consultation or anything democratic, just to make them permanent.His ambition is to turn Ealing into London’s ‘Copenhagen’ regardless of resident wishes. Laughably he also likens Ealing to an inner London borough but with outer London transport links.

Simon Hayes ● 1741d

Very notable that they have not placed any of these in areas that have real problems.And are also the ruling parties strongest voteable for councillors and MP.There's a surprise!So why choose areas where there is no real problem for 95% of the day?

Raymond Havelock ● 1741d

I don't know the area well enough to comment on the details of the proposal. What does concern me about these schemes is the lack of agreed upon measures of success. As no traffic counts appear to have been taken before they were implemented (and they wouldn't have been valid anyway because of the unusual conditions) there is no point of comparison for traffic levels after the scheme. As David Millican points out these experimental schemes tend to become permanent and if the council get to choose how success is measured they will all be deemed to be a success even if the daily experience of residents is that they are not.

Gordon Southwell ● 1741d