Forum Topic

Residents to be given power to tackle unwanted street clutter

Grant Shapps, Housing Minister, has just announced that residents should get together and decide how to use new powers to create the neighbourhood they want.Under the Localism Bill, communities will be given the power to produce a neighbourhood development plan which allows them to get rid of things such as shop signs, billboards and railings which they believe are unnecessary or unsightly. For years, there has been a jumble of street signs right across the London. I remember hearing a report last week on TV of Grafton Road, in Kentish Town - a road I know well - having a plethora of road signs that confused the hell out of drivers.  Locally, I think of Park Road, in Hanwell, that still has a sign saying "New Roundabout Ahead" as one approaches Drayton Bridge Road.  Yet the roundabout has been there for a good nine months or so.  And I am powerless to get it taken down. So well done Mr Shapps for introducing this.

Ben Owen ● 5418d12 Comments

That is true but often in a strange area one would normally be more cautious anyway. but two nutters will always arrange things for a nice bash

Peter Chadburn ● 5416d

But drivers who are new to the area don't.

Susan Kelly ● 5416d

We are alive because we know it and go with the flow fully aware of the hazards.

Peter Chadburn ● 5416d

It's a VERY unusual arrangement, in my experience; unique, in fact. When you get a green light at a junction, you naturally assume that it's okay to go. It's fine for locals, although the 65 bus drivers seem to assume that they have right of way, regardless.I got hooted at earlier this week by some grockle behind me  because I was waiting for traffic coming round the roundabout.If you don't have an accident there, then you can have one at the next junction coming into the Chiswick Roundabout, where traffic comes down off the flyover and doesn't bother to stop.As for obeying the normal rules of roundabouts, you don't do that at, say, the Chiswick Roundabout, because it's taken for granted that the lights override the rules on a roundabout.How are we all still alive?!

Susan Kelly ● 5416d

the more i think if it you are right. a large proportion obviously do know the pattern of the road. but it just needs 2 strangers on a collision course and bingo!!!

Peter Chadburn ● 5417d

Well you might know that but a lot of people using that junction patently don't.  I too am surprised there are not more accidents there.

Gillian Healey ● 5417d

It is a hybrid and I treat it as a roundabout in which you need a traffic light to get onto it. however you are on the a4 and want to turn right you do not have priority. if on ealing road and want to turn right you do have priority. great if you know it but a definate case of inconsistency!!

Peter Chadburn ● 5417d

But it's still a roundabout!Sorry if I come across as a bit of a pedant but I get really 'miffed' when drivers appear to think that they have priority on entering roundabouts.Admittedly the situation at Ealing Road is rare but the overarching 'give way' rule must apply.

Nigel Brooks ● 5417d

It has traffic lights as well as being a roundabout so you think you are OK to go on a green light until a lorry comes hurtling towards you as it turns right.

Gillian Healey ● 5417d

What's unusual about giving way to traffic on a roundabout? That's the norm surely.

Nigel Brooks ● 5417d

I think that you will find that the A4 Ealing Road roundabout is in Brentford which is in the Borough of Hounslow rather than Ealing.

Marc Races ● 5417d

Only nine months? New roundabout/new road layout signs are usually there for at least five years.Would it kill the Council to put signs on the roundabout where Ealing Road meets the A4 that say 'Give way to traffic coming round the roundabout'? I'm amazed that there aren't more accidents there, as it's such an unusual arrangement.

Susan Kelly ● 5417d