Forum Topic

Hanwell Traffic consultation

Not really sure what to make of this. Looks like it could improve Uxbridge Road but I fear that it may push more traffic down Deans Road and does nothing to stop the worsening rat-running through Montague Road.http://www.ealing.gov.uk/downloads/download/2277/hanwell_and_west_ealing__uxbridge_road_corridor_improvements_consultation

Martyn Brown ● 4773d30 Comments

Does anyone know when the next phase of the Hanwell traffic works is starting? Was supposed to be this year but no sign yet of Clocktower roundabout or reversing of Cherington Road.

Martyn Brown ● 4139d

Many thanks Nigel

Martyn Brown ● 4552d

Thanks Nigel.

Nigel Brooks ● 4552d

Here is a summary of the consultation results for your information Lower Boston Road junction – widening of the junctions with a wider crossing at Uxbridge Road – 67% in favour -Widening the footway in Hanwell including removal of eastbound bus lane – 62% in favour -New pedestrian crossing at Westminster Road – 68% in favour with 58% in favour of option 2 which retains a mature tree but does not widen footpath on south side -Boston Road/ Hanwell clock junction – new mini roundabout including reversing Cherington Road – 59% in favour -Church Road – mini roundabout with pedestrian crossing at all 4 junctions – 68% in favour -Hanwell town centre – introduction of new 20 mile per hour zone – 69% in favour -New cycle lane between Church Road and Eccleston Road with removal of westbound bus lane – 52% in favour -New crossing at Eccleston Road removing banned left turn – 71% in favour -West Ealing road safety measures – raising the crossing at 4 existing locations and new side road entries to reduce traffic speed and facilitate safer pedestrian movement – 67% in favour - West Ealing town centre – introduction of new 20 mile per hour zone- 65% in favour - Urban realm improvements at Green Man Passage - 64% in favourThe council is now working on an implementation schedule with the priority for the Church Road/St George's Road Junction hopefully this year and the rest of the schemes to follow on next year.

Nigel Bakhai ● 4552d

Does anyone know the outcome of the Hanwell/West Ealing Traffic consultation?

Martyn Brown ● 4552d

agreed with the last few commentsInregards to surface defects its safe to say the main road is always better maintainedhigh usage roads are inspected monthly, whereas side roads are inspect 3 monthly.Also buses may cause problems for cyclists, but what about cyclists who cause issues for pedestrians by jumping red lightyesterday at the hanwell tower, the light was gree but the car driver let the student pedestrian cross, ascotter didnt see the  pedestrian andsawthe green light, resulted in a crash,nothing severe but we are all at faultno reason to put cyclists on side road (coming froma car driver who clothes cyclist!)

R Gill ● 4767d

The difference is that King Street (at least the section with the 'isolated' cycle lane is one-way. It is bedlam where it becomes two way working by Dalling Road with cyclists 'stranded' as they try to re-join the westbound flow on the other side of the road. They end up cycling over the pedestrian crossings much to the annoyance of pedestrians and motorists alike.Not a great example and not workable through Hanwell or west Ealing.

Nigel Brooks ● 4767d

Went to Hammersmith on Monday in King Street. There is a dedicated cycle lane with a 5/6 inch high concrete 'wall' separating cyclists from cars, lorries, buses, motor bikes etc.Also road cyclists are not all one type. These include commuter cyclists setting off into London sometime after 6:00am. There are cycling families with little ones on little bikes. There are also those cyclists who think they are Bradley Wiggins....

Eric Alan Leach ● 4767d

David,For the young and the old cycling on the Uxbridge Road is a harrowing experience. To encourage these groups to cycle cycling must be seen to be safe and for the authorities cycling has to be engineered to be safe. To build award winning cycle hubs at Ealing Broadway is just not enough. My suggestion is not to ban you from cycling along the Uxbridge Road and if you wish stopping at every shop but to facilitate a 12 year old getting to secondary school on his/her own steam. Not in mum's taxi and safely. David take a close look along the Uxbridge Road today with a straight-edge. Many cycle accidents don't involve another vehicle they are due to surface defects. These are caused by the frequent and heavy bus use. Surface defects can throw cyclists off. This happened to a member of our family. A fourteen year old girl was thrown from her bike lost half a front tooth. The police didn't have a form to record it. And remember these defects are hidden following rain so you can't always see them.

Arthur Breens ● 4768d

I quite like cycling along the Uxbridge Road - I can't see the appeal of a "proper" route running along side. I am sure most cyclists also want to stop and shop just like everyone else.

David Eales ● 4768d

oh and i forgot the M4 was free of accidents

R Gill ● 4770d

Raj,Our proposal was to take the cyclists away from the Uxbridge Road and do away with the idea that this is a safe place for them. The suggestion was to design a proper route along the south side of Leeland Terrace then on to Mattock Lane then The Grove and on to Ealing Common. This is the so-called Mackenzie Highway. You probably couldn't do it all now but you could make a start. And it would push the money in the right direction. Parking would be confined to the north side of Leeland Terrace. The aim is to separate road users/uses because conflict means accidents. Motorways are safe places using a per vehicle per mile yard-stick. Why? because the M4 does one thing..separate carriageway in each direction, no pedestrians, no parking and no cyclists..you get the idea.

Arthur Breens ● 4770d

Arthur what do you suggest? Assuming a separate built up label for cyclists? No cyclists? The roads are too narrow so the council is doing what they canI can also sayGreenford had a good chance to sort itself out now after 5million, it is a traffic nightmare WEN had a great chance to sort lido but look at it now, and ahem

R Gill ● 4770d

John,My feeling is that it is not a clever idea to make provision for cyclists in the Uxbridge Road. Buses cause much damage to the road surface and the maintenance regime has difficulty keeping up. One defect that could easily have thrown a cyclist under a bus took 5 weeks to sort out.Cyclists and buses don't mix. Buses keep stopping and cyclists want to make steady progress. Keeping them together is the lazy option. Add in cars stopping and parking and opening doors on the new parking bays on the Uxbridge Road and you have increased danger. Transport planning had a golden opportunity to separate buses and cyclists but missed that by not making another route for cyclists.

Arthur Breens ● 4772d

The 20mph restictions could be a problem,if it is just along hanwell bdy then west ealing shopping centre that will not be too bad,but if it is from hanwell to the lido it could cause accidents ( drivers looking at their speedmeters,instead of the road) and more polution, also why remove the bus lane? I suppose to make the cyclist, most who break every rule in the book and don't pay a penny in road tax, happy, Keep the bus lane and let the cyclist use the road, as the are supposed to do

John Charles Todd ● 4773d

I never said I had plans, I expected bettermy local residents are aware what's Ive aleady done in EalingIve been a long time lurker with no intention to post apart from todayFYI I'm friends with a former user who seems to have been banned? I guess someone reported him despite him providing useful info such as new opening, or improvements to EalingThere is juts no pleasing people.

R Gill ● 4773d

Arthur, I'm pleased that you lobbied for the junction to be made safer. It was long overdue and there were far, far too many accidents there. I'm no expert but surely there must be a way to free up the traffic and most importantly make it 100 per cent safe for pedstrians.

Martyn Brown ● 4773d

Tin hats on lads - this is going to be a big one! :-)

Tony Colliver ● 4773d

Martyn,I hold my hands up to being one of a large group that lobbied to improve this junction for pedestrians. Our 30 page report based on research and observation went in to the Council and lay dormant for years. Eventually the junction was altered but by then we were excluded from the loop. Don't apologise don't explain and don't show any concern. They might say it needs "bedding in" but I've given up believing in them. We who have to use these roads on a daily basis are treated like plebs. All we want is someone who is prepared to admit to what you see Martyn and tell us how and what he/she will do about it and then come back some time later to view the improvement. This light timing needs sorting and pedestrians need to be told about the sequence. Then they might wait for the green man and not play Russian Roulette with the traffic. This is not working properly but surprise surprise is not in any of these proposals.

Arthur Breens ● 4773d

Wow - a lame effort from WEN.What did your plans look like Mr/Ms Gill?

Eric Alan Leach ● 4773d

I agree. I really fear for Deans Road. It will end up like Montague Road which is a very busy rat-run. Large vans and lorries are the biggest problem. They should be on A and B roads, not hammering down residential roads. A car got smashed in Montague Avenue a few weeks ago and the problem will only get worse. Reducing the width restrictions would go some way stopping vans and lorries but a roundabout on Ux/Chruch Rd is not the way to go.

Martyn Brown ● 4773d

Crossrail is not going to make an iota of difference to the congestion on the Uxbridge Road.

Tony Colliver ● 4773d

My overarching concern about the plans, while welcoming the removal of traffic lights and their replacement with roundabouts, is the reversal of flow on Cherrington Road.Southbound traffic for Boston Road and onwards has a direct route along Cherrington and then over the lights and on to Boston Road.With the flow reversed traffic will now proceed to the new roundabout by St. Joseph's church and either turn right onto Uxbridge Road and then left on to Boston Road or, more likely go straight across and turn Deans Road into a permanent traffic jam. The new roundabout is going to require much better signage of the width restriction to prevent anything much larger than a Transit trying to take the Deans Road route.

Nigel Brooks ● 4773d

For me, the Lido junction is the stretch of the Uxbridge Road that needs freeing up. Although probably safer for pedestrians now its slowed the traffic flow markedly. Yes, Hanwell needs tweaking and made more driver/pedestrian friendly but I'm not sure all of the proposed plans are what's needed.In the long run Crossrail may take some of the pressure off the Uxbridge Road. However, with more new homes being built on the Green Man estate and no doubt on part of the Ealing hospital site in a few years time then the local traffic problems are likely to increase.

Martyn Brown ● 4773d

yes Lido has 'improved' butto be honest anyone could have provided  those plans which are now in palcethe whole junction still needs adddressing it is appalling and  makes you think the many years of effort to get this improved and WEN could only produce a lame effort, I applaud the new designs much betterI cant see many issues with these new plan based purely on Uxbridge Road. Cars will be moving wheras they would stop previously.My only issue is with Uxbridge Road from  Ealing Hospital to Lower Boston Road, the with restriction due to the bridge is necessary but one of the most annoying ttaffic concerns

R Gill ● 4773d

Eric, The forward to the proposals written by LBE Transport Planning contains the statement that they are "based on initial responses from local councillors, residents and traders". No they are not. Representing two resident organisations I met the transport department three times since Christmas. Pointless waste of time. Has anything changed in any of the proposals in West Ealing? I made comments on many items. Nothing has changed. So why is N.O'Donnell using this turn of phrase? Someone tell me please.

Arthur Breens ● 4773d

Bus lanes are to be removed. Computer traffic modelling says 'Yes' to this. Presumably when the Bus Lanes were put in the computer traffic modelling said 'Yes' to this also.One of the aspects of the plans (drafted way back in 2012) which is angering Hanwell residents the most is reversing the traffic flow along Cherrington Road. Over the last 6 months I haven't found any Hanwell resident in favour of it. If you are a Hanwell resident and/or you drive down this road regularly please post and explain why you are for or against this change of flow.With regards the Lido Junction, West Ealing Neighbours spent months and hundreds of pounds studying this death trap. We did not propose a roundabout as that approach was not in any way on TfL's radar at the time. As this junction was the one with the highest accident rate in Ealing a traffic lights to roundabout conversion (even if it was considered at the time) was probably seen as too radical and too high risk. Eventually Ealing Council and TfL agreed with residents and pedestrian lights were installed in 2012.The big problem now at Lido Junction is the regular, significant  build up of queuing traffic from the west.The current traffic proposals make no reference to this major problem and consequently neither Ealing Council nor its computer traffic modelling software give us an opinion  or a solution.I urge you to study the plans; to try and attend one of the public consultation meetings; and respond to the consultation.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4773d

I think the proposals look promising and will improve traffic flow through Hanwell. The roundabout + zebra crossing approach does require a change of mindset amongst drivers to voluntarily give way to pedestrians, but I think most will understand that cooperation is the best policy.I don't see why this wouldn't work at the Lido and I think the planners should have been more adventurous when they made changes in Greenford a few years back.

John Walker ● 4773d

There seem to be more and more roundabout replacing lights. the ones that have been put in at gurnel and Bollo lane Acton have made a massive improvement to the traffic. I wondered why they didnt put one at the lido, I suppose it was because of the amount of pedestrians trying to cross all four roads.

Marie Shelny ● 4773d

Mini-roundabout plus zebra crossings at the Clock Tower is quite demanding on a major arterial road. No doubt traffic studies suggest it will work but why the not then at the Lido down the road?

Philip Coe ● 4773d