OneChiswick’s final letter to Cabinet pointing out they were being misled by the data Katherine Dunne presented and that C9 should not be made permanent.

The letter below was sent to all Cabinet Members on 5th Sept 2023 prior to the vote being taken to make Cycle Superhighway 9 permanent. Despite this, and ongoing immense local opposition, the Cabinet voted to make C9 permanent.

Dear Cabinet Members 

Tonight, you have C9 on your agenda. We have now seen TfL’s Consultation Report, a summary of which has been provided to Cabinet in your papers.

Beware – you are being misled!

The summaries do not present a true or fair picture. Please look at the original reports (attached), where you will see that the most significant findings are being withheld from you. The bottom line is that respondents have given C9 a decisive thumbs down and their favoured course of action is to remove it. Knowing that you have been given grossly misleading information, giving your approval to make C9 permanent now would be both negligent and a failure in one’s duty as a councillor. 

ConsultationReport (https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/10512/widgets/30008/documents/46086)

The most significant findings of TfL’s consultation were:

• 74% agreed that local traffic congestion had worsened as a result of C9
• 69% said that the scheme should be changed
• The most favoured suggested action was the removal of all or part of the scheme (36% of unprompted responses to an open question)
• 68% stated that C9 had either made no difference to how much they cycled to get around the local area, or had made them cycle less
• 66% of respondents did not feel that the scheme had made a positive improvement to the area and 86% didn’t need a moment longer to decide if C9 was a positive improvement!·         
• 61% felt C9 had made it harder to get to local shops or other local amenities and that it had made their neighbourhood or the area where they usually travel less pleasant·         
• 60% felt less safe walking & cycling since the scheme was installed; 37% felt less safe using public transport

• 53% of local businesses stated C9 had not had a positive impact; 44% said it had made deliveries more difficult, and 45% that customers were concerned about the loss of parking
• Over 85% of respondents commented on the open question, raising 50+ different concerns

All of these substantial percentages were omitted from the executive summary of the report. Furthermore, the TfL document notes that 378 email responses to the consultation – 45% of all the email responses that were submitted (source: TfL FOI ref. IRV-054-2324) – were generated through the website of the London Cycling Campaign as part of an organised lobbying effort. Without these 378 emails from the LCC, the number of respondents who noted the “good impacts” of Cycleway 9 would be even lower – c.545 in total (just 12% of those answering the open question).Cabinet members should be aware that Cllr. Dunne, the member responsible for submitting the paper, is a member of the Hounslow Cycling Campaign (the borough group of the London Cycling Campaign), as is Guy Lambert. This represents a substantial conflict of interest – namely that an organisation which the lead member supports has sought to influence the outcome of the consultation. Cabinet members must expect that the Council will manage that conflict in line with its Constitution. 

MonitoringReport https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/10512/widgets/30008/documents/46087)

In addition to the consultation report, TfL has provided a technical Monitoring Report, which also gives rise for serious concern because the data in it is highly selective and potentially misleading, as outlined below. It covers cycling usage & safety, as well as bus & vehicle traffic journey times. Most of this material is wholly or partially reproduced in the Appendices of the Cabinet paper, along with some additional data on air quality. The truth is that: TfL’s cycle count in 2022 was 10% lower than the previous year

·  Their new “cycle kilometres” metric relies on unreliable data and questionable assumptions

·         The rate of cycle collisions doubled during each period when the C9 scheme was fully open

·         The volume of motor traffic using Chiswick High Road has nearly halved……yet bus and vehicle journey times remain up to 50% slower than in 2019

·         Air quality deteriorated, as levels of harmful PM2.5 particulates increased during 2022 

Here is the detail: 

(1)   Cycling Usage

a)   The monitoring report introduces a new metric cycle kms, which it uses to suggest cycling has grown substantially on the C9 route year on year. However, it is deeply flawed because there is no way to benchmark against the situation pre-pandemic and pre-C9; it relies on camera data TfL has previously discounted as “challenging”, it uses a highly questionable methodology, and it is inconsistent with other cycling data. 

(b)   Most significantly, the number of cyclists on the C9 route in 2022 was, embarrassingly for TfL, 10% lower than the previous year, when the country was partially in lockdown. 

(c)   It is also extremely surprising that TfL presents no data for 2023. Why? Could it be that cycling volumes are disappointing? Such a hypothesis seems feasible when one appreciates that a like for like comparison of cycling number on the King Street stretch of C9, using DfT data and the Telraam system, shows that cycling volumes have not managed to reach 2019 levels in 2023 (see chart below).

(2)   Safety 

(a)   As can be seen in the chart below, the number of cycle collisions on Chiswick High Road has increased markedly since construction of C9 began in September 2020.

(b)   The data table supplied in the Monitoring Report (an expanded version of which also appears in Appendix I of the Cabinet paper) splits out these collisions into a number of periods in which C9 was either active, or fully / partially under construction. However, this data table contains a number of inaccuracies that misleadingly skew the data. 

(c)   The revised table below more accurately represents the cycle collision data available on the TfL road safety dashboard (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/road-safety)

(d)   As shown in the chart below, the rate of overall cycle collisions more than doubled during each period in which the C9 scheme has been fully open, with the rate of serious cycle collisions nearly four times higher after the opening of phase 3A.

 (3)   Bus and motor vehicle journey times 

(a)   While the Monitoring Report admits bus journey times are worse than in 2019, before C9 was built, the measurements used to describe delays (e.g., eastbound buses on Chiswick High Road being “one minute slower per kilometre”) downplay their impact. A bus travelling at 20 mph (32 kph) would travel 1km in under 2 minutes. An additional delay of one minute per kilometre means an increase in journey time of more than 50%. 

(b)   The journey time data for both buses and motor vehicles should also be interpreted in the context of a significant reduction in motor vehicle traffic on Chiswick High Road since 2021. Data from TfL’s digital cameras near the junction with Turnham Green Terrace indicate that motor vehicle traffic remained at nearly half the volume counted by the Department for Transport in 2018 (as per the chart below):

(c)   With such a large reduction in the volume of traffic on Chiswick High Road, average speeds should have increased substantially (or journey times decreased substantially). But the opposite has happened. The journey time data supports complaints about substantial increases in congestion. (d)   The apparent reduction in motor vehicle traffic also has implications for the cycle collision statistics presented by TfL (see paragraph 2(d) above); if there are now fewer motor vehicles using Chiswick High Road, why has the rate of cycle collisions doubled each time that the C9 scheme has been fully opened? 

(4)   Air quality 

(a)   The Cabinet paper states that “the main pollutants in the local area…have either decreased or are below EU limits” (paragraph 5.6); however, this reduction is in line with similar locations; and many factors leading to air quality improvements have nothing to do with C9.

(b)   Given the reduction in traffic volumes on Chiswick High Road (see paragraph 3(b) above), the improvements in air quality should be far greater. However, levels of harmful PM2.5 particulates actually increased in 2022 to a level of 12 mg/m³ – in excess of the target of 10 mg/m³ set by the UK government and the Mayor of London.

Conclusion
TfL and LBH are trying to argue that C9 is a success but proper analysis of its data shows: ·         Respondents have given it a decisive thumbs-down and the most favoured action is removal, despite a concerted email response from the London Cycling Campaign

·         Cycle volumes have not increased to the degree claimed

·         Cycling on the C9 route is now less safe than before C9 was built

·         Congestion / vehicle throughput is massively worse

·         All journey times, including bus journey times, are substantially slower

·         Air quality has deteriorated 

In summary, C9 has failed to deliver on every important metric and a decision to make it permanent would be manifestly perverse.

….and the outcome? Residents and facts were once again ignored and they voted to make dangerous C9 permanent

************************************************************

ONECHISWICK LETTER TO CLLR. RAJAWAT, LEADER OF HOUNSLOW COUNCIL AND COPIED TO ALL RELEVANT COUNCILLORS AND OFFICERS OF HOUNSLOW COUNCIL 25TH FEBRUARY 2023

Dear Councillor Leader Rajawat

Introduction

On Friday 24 February a number of Chiswick residents attended a briefing by your lead Traffic Officer, Jefferson Nwokeoma, Assistant Director for Traffic, Transport and Parking in regard to Staveley Road and Burlington Lane.  A number of other Council Officers were also present, but we note that your lead member, the Councillor for Transport, Cllr Katherine Dunne, was not.

That briefing did not go well.  

Complaints

There are many observations that could be made as to the timing of that meeting, its limited scope, its conduct and the refusal of your lead Traffic Officer to record it, for no good reason, further much of the spin on the presentation was challenged on many occasions. Be reassured that residents took it upon themselves to fully record the session and local residents have informed local councillors that they intend to start to make a number of complaints. 

It was particularly notable that Officer Nwokeoma was continually evasive when asked whether and how any Chief Officer Decision would be made and the timing of such decision.  He informed residents that a decision was yet to be made, and it would be made later this week by himself and the Councillor for Transport and member of the Hounslow Cycling Campaign, Cllr Katherine Dunne.  Residents are fully aware that Chief Officer Decisions already made will be published on 28 February.

Clearly Officer Nwokeoma and Cllr Katherine Dunne will be bringing the Council into disrepute (a breach of the Council’s Code of Conduct), if it were to be the case that a decision had already been made or is being made this weekend without following proper procedure.  It would be inconsistent with Officer Nwokeoma’s statements to residents.  Further it would demonstrate the contempt with which the Council treats Chiswick and its residents.

The Council’s experiment of the South Chiswick Neighbourhood Liveable Scheme has failed

The conclusion of the presentation is that the two experimental schemes Staveley Road and Burlington Lane have both failed to yield any benefits, that they never will and as such they should be immediately stopped.   Overwhelmingly 80% of the public are against these schemes as they are against all other schemes in Chiswick. In summary, the Council have made the area unliveable.  

As the Council’s presentation showed that although there is a reduction in traffic inside the area, this is completely outweighed:

• No benefits in air pollution with substantive increases on boundary roads (A4 and A316) that outweigh any benefits though not properly measured yet on the A316 but are getting worse given the lengths of queuing
• No statistically significant benefits for active travel
• A complete lack of understanding of how the area works and is used
• A complete lack of understanding as to the blight on people’s lives and local businesses
• A continued and sustained lack of public support against these and every other measure, with 80% of the public against these measures and as such against the Council.

No value for money assessment was provided in breach of the Portfolio Holders responsibility in 3B, 2.2 (e).

The Correct Chief Officer Decision

The only Chief Officer decision that can be reached is to immediately stop the experimental traffic orders.

To assist the Council, we have drafted that decision for you (see attachment), it is to abandon your Council’s current experimental traffic orders, not to progress any other experimental traffic orders and to reverse the “failed” decision to make the Staveley Road/Park Road barrier permanent, that has resulted in the lives of residents on Burlington Lane being severely blighted.  

As the draft Chief Officer Decision sets out we want you to take a more constructive approach and work with the residents of Chiswick and deliver solutions they want and that will be widely supported.  

Legal Risk

If the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport Strategy, Cllr Katherine Dunne and Officer Nwokeoma were to take it upon themselves to propose a different decision and make permanent any aspects there are significant legal risks if the Council were to proceed.  These are multi-faceted, but lets take just 4 from the Council’s own constitution:

• The London Borough of Hounslow Council Constitution is clear that the Assistant Director Transport, Parking and Environment only has delegated powers to make any “Approval of local traffic and transport schemes in consultation with Ward Councillors” (3C,6.15).  No consultation had taken place.

• Given the evidence presented by Officer Nwokeoma, that increases in Air pollution on the outweigh any reductions in Grove Park, even excluding the increases not properly monitored by the Council on the A316, it is clear that the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport Strategy, Cllr Katherine Dunne is failing in her responsibility for “Carbon Reduction and Improvements to Air Quality” (3B, 4e) and more generally in 3B, 4f.

• An overriding failure to meet the responsibility of the Council to ensure “That the Council delivers value for money in all that it does” (3B 2.2(e)). 

• The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport Strategy, Cllr Katherine Dunne through membership of the Hounslow Cycling Campaign, is acting as proposer, cheerleader, judge and jury and is once again in breach of all the obligations for council members under the Councils Code of Conduct.  As a member she is bringing the Council into disrepute.

The Way Forward

We understand that you have been invited to attend the Chiswick Area Forum, we encourage you to attend to start the process of reversing the destruction of Chiswick in 2023 and to work with Chiswick residents, not against them.

One Chiswick

ONECHISWICK PRESS RELEASE 22ND JANUARY 2023

Reversing the Destruction of Chiswick in 2023

Happy New Year.  In 2023 we look forward to Hounslow Council Leader Shantanu Rajawat delivering and Hounslow becoming a listening council, and that means delivering for and listening to their electorate in Chiswick too.

In November we highlighted the pain and real costs (£10m plus in fines issued in 6 months) that has been inflicted on Chiswick by the London Borough of Hounslow, identifying those responsible in the Council who pander to the demands of the tiny clique of Hounslow Cycling Campaign.  Different leaders need to be put in place to work with all the residents in Chiswick. 

We were pleased to see that Council Leader Rajawat responded to our call for the Grove Park traffic restrictions to be suspended over the Festive period, but many issues did still arise, some tragic, that demonstrate the ongoing failures of the traffic schemes across Chiswick and why the Council needs to change it’s approach on traffic matters.

Over the Festive period and into the New Year, some pretty un-festive activity came to light:

• A further Council FOI response shows that it has issued 162,011 PCNS worth over £21m for the traffic schemes in Grove Park since 2020.  And to rub salt into the wounds this includes fines to Grove Park residents totalling £650,000.
• This is backed up by two further FOI data requests that have been published showing that nearly £7m was paid from over 105,000 fines (meaning £13.6m of PCNs issued) in 2022, and that indeed more than £10m in fines had been issued in 6 months
• Although the traffic schemes’ restrictions were suspended in Grove Park, the Council and its agents still issued many fines to visitors and residents which have been distressing!
• Many will remember Cllr Katherine Dunne at the Chiswick Area Forum said it was difficult to determine the level of fines. Clearly it isn’t. The above confirms that and as residents knew all along LBH are ripping off Chiswick with these cost of living fines. The schemes have failed on all measures. Cllr Dunne is just having trouble admitting it.
• A resident who had the audacity to challenge some specific fines and had written to the Council to seek a sensible resolution was bullied and harassed by Debt Collectors on behalf of the Council
• An FOI response by TfL showed that expenditure on C9 is already over £12m for this experimental scheme.  All experimental schemes are to be reversible, so it will be interesting to see how the Council has set aside the funds to do so.

But worse: a tragedy came to Park Road, Grove Park on 29th December, when a fire ripped through a house that was being refurbished.  Fortunately, no one was in the property, but near by residents were evacuated too for a time. 

As residents observed, the Emergency Services struggled to get to the house, one Fire Engine seemed to be driving around the area, and although the Emergency Services were called shortly after 4.34pm the fire was not brought under control until 7.46pm (as reported in Chiswick W4).

This creates a real issue for the Council, as in 2020 the Emergency Services raised their objections to the temporary Staveley Barrier going in as it would restrict access and put property and lives at risk.  Why did the Council ignore them?  The Emergency Services were right to object.  The Council should have listened then and should listen now.  The Staveley Barrier needs to be removed.  The lesson is that Hounslow Council needs to listen to the Emergency Services, not the Hounslow Cycling Campaign. 

All of the above show how many issues exist for the Council and the scale and substance shows why Council Leader Rajawat needs to take charge and listen to and work with the people of Chiswick and direct his councillors and officers to follow his lead. Reversing the destruction of Chiswick needs to start in earnest in 2023.

Ends 

ONECHISWICK PRESS RELEASE 20TH DECEMBER 2022

OneChiswick Welcomes Councillor Rajawat’s Lifting of Traffic Restrictions in Chiswick During The Festive Period Following our Request Last Week

On behalf of the people of Chiswick, OneChiswick is delighted to hear today that Hounslow Council Leader has suspended the traffic restrictions across Chiswick from Friday 23 December 2022 to 2 January 2023 inclusive.  This follows a letter that was sent from OneChiswick to the Leader of the Council Shantanu Rajawat last week requesting that they should be lifted during that period.

A spokesperson said “We are grateful to the Council Leader who has listened to the Chiswick Residents at this time of year when times are very tough.  Many family and friends from outside the area will be visiting Chiswick over the festive period and with so many activations and suspensions over the past few months, it will reduce the stress of travelling in what is a very difficult cost of living crisis.”

All enforcement of the access restrictions on Staveley Road and Hartington Road will be suspended between the following dates / times: From 7pm on Friday 23 December until 8am on 2 January 2023.

They added, “It is a bit odd however, that it is not until 8am on the 3rd January given the 2^nd is a Bank Holiday?”

Last week TfL has already provided clarity in regard to the Congestion Charge which will not operate over the festive period.  With many residents wanting grandparents to be present for the excitement of Christmas morning, the letter to Council Leader asked that no fines be issued from Christmas Eve.  Hounslow Council has also set precedents in the past by not enforcing parking restrictions over Christmas. 

A copy of the letter sent last week to Council Leader, Shantanu Rajawat, on behalf of the thousands of Chiswick people is attached.

A spokesperson added, “Further we look forward to working with Council Leader Rajawat in 2023 to resolve the problems in Chiswick created by his predecessor.”

We wish you all a Merry Christmas.

OneChiswick

16^th December 2022 Copy of Letter to Councillor Rajawat

Dear Council Leader Shantanu Rajawat

As the Council Leader you will be aware that the Council issued over £10m in fines on just Staveley Road and Hartington Road, to hard working carers, nurses, teachers, Chiswick residents and visitors between January and June 2022.  The actual fines issued by the Council across all its restrictions in Chiswick in 2022 is much higher.

You will also be aware that as part of the fines issued on Staveley Rd and Hartington Rd, the Council issued almost 500 fines a day on average, totalling £189,220 in fines (FOI Data attached), on the religious Easter Bank Holiday weekend, 15,16 and 18 April this year.  

It also issued fines on one of those Roads on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.  In both cases these fines will have been issued to many people simply visiting friends and family in Grove Park, NOT commuters rat running. 

The Christmas weekend and festive period is coming up.  Transport for London (TfL) have already announced the London Congestion Charge will not operate from Christmas through to the 3rd January.

At this time many of us are planning our to visit or visits from family and friends over the Christmas and New Year period.  As things stand in Chiswick,  we live with the fear that our families and friends visiting us will be the victims of unwarranted, unreasonable and unseasonal fines.  As a listening Council, can you confirm in the spirit of Christmas:

1.  That from 24 December to 2 January no fines will be issued over the Christmas or New Year period to anyone visiting Chiswick, including all the Grove Park restrictions, and those on Devonshire Rd.

2.  Take the opportunity to confirm that these restrictions will also be lifted, and no fines issued, for the weekends of 6 to 9 January and 13 to 16 January when TfL once again starts its rearranged works on the A4 and surrounds.

We look forward to a prompt confirmation and wish you a Merry Christmas.

On behalf of the hard working people of Chiswick who simply want the peace of mind that they can invite their families and friends

OneChiswick

FOI Background Data (from 3 FOI responses – 19 July 2022, 23 September 2022, 22 November 2022) – Supplied by L B of Hounslow – FINES ISSUED OVER THE 2022 EASTER PERIOD WERE £189,000

Staveley Road Fines Issued

15.4.2022 – 391 fines

16.4.2022 – 444 fines

18.4.2022 – 288 fines

Hartington Road Fines Issued

15.4.2022 – 132 fines

16.4.2022 – 86 fines

18.4.2022 – 113 fines

Total            1454

ONECHISWICK PRESS RELEASE 2ND SEPTEMBER 2022
There has recently been widespread publicity about the complaint upheld by the BBC Executive Complaints Unit about the conduct of Jeremy Vine.
It ruled that Jeremy Vine’s social media activity was inconsistent with the BBC’s editorial standards on the basis of impartiality. It is rare for the BBC to uphold such complaints.

Subsequently, there have been several highly misleading descriptions of the OneChiswick Facebook Group on various social media and websites.
One Chiswick (Chiswick Residents and Businesses against Streetspace Changes) Facebook Group was set up to fight for safer streets for all and to bring back what is best about Chiswick.

It is not and has never been anti-cycling.

Since 2020 it has provided a voice to residents and businesses who wish to either oppose or critique the changes that have been made and propose alternatives on matters that affect their day to day lives and that have been imposed against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of residents. People deserve the right to free speech.
Accordingly, OneChiswick does not endorse any abusive comments on its Facebook group, nor any attacks on cyclists.

Initial posts/threads are screened by the administrators in advance of publication so that that anything contravening the rules of the site is removed in advance. But if comments are made in response to the posts,
these can only be removed reactively, ie once published and administrators use their best endeavours to ensure that any such comments are removed promptly in accordance with the Group’s rules.

For that reason, most comments being quoted on social media and local websites in the last few days had indeed been removed promptly by administrators, but between being posted and removed, they had been saved as screenshots by certain parties.

In re-posting them now, their intent appears to be to misrepresent OneChiswick as an abusive organisation, some going so far as to describe the Group as posting “constant abuse”. This is simply not true. Some of their posts also appear to have come from other social media platforms unrelated to OneChiswick, which is further misrepresentation.

In short there appears to be a coordinated attempt to discredit OneChiswick by misrepresenting the Facebook Group.

Various social media posts and website articles have also stated that one person is the ‘superintendent’ of the Facebook Group. We wish to correct this error – there isn’t any “superintendent” of the site – just hardworking,
unpaid, volunteer administrators doing their best to provide a service to the community in Chiswick.

ONECHISWICK.COM

Cllr Shantanu Rajawat. Picture: Hounslow Labour

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat [email protected];

The new leader of Hounslow Council is Shantanu Rajawat after he was selected by the local Labour Party at its AGM on Monday 9 May.

The former borough finance chief had widely been expected to take over from Steve Curran even before the party maintained its control of the council in the recent election. He won the vote ahead of six other candidates for the leadership.

He has lived in the borough all his life and represents the Heston West constituency where he works in the gem and precious stone industry. Cllr Rajawat graduated from the University of Kent at Canterbury in Politics and International Relations and obtained a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP University.

After the vote he said, “I am honoured and humbled the Labour Group has elected me as their new leader and I am very grateful for the support of my colleagues.

“I am committed to building on the best work of the last administration, working to tackle climate change and air pollution, improve our estates and communities, and build social housing.

“But I also want us to forge out in new directions to build an even better borough. Fundamentally, residents and businesses want a listening Council.

“I want to work across the borough for cleaner streets and more opportunities for young people in Hounslow. I want to give local people every chance for their voices to be heard on local decisions so that everyone in Hounslow, from Chiswick to Cranford has a seat at the table.”

His deputy will be Katherine Dunne who was formerly Cabinet Member for Communities and Climate Emergency.

No major change of policy direction is anticipated from the new leadership team with many of the former Cabinet expected to remain although portfolio responsibilities may shift.

The outgoing leader Steve Curran, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer said on social media, “Thank you to the people of #Hounslow, the community groups, businesses, voluntary organisations, police, health workers & many others for your commitment to making Hounslow an outstanding borough.”

CLEANING UP POLITICS IN HOUNSLOW

Hounslow Council has been featured more than once in Private Eye as a ‘Rotten Borough’. According to Councillor Theo Denniston, Hounslow Council breaks the law every month because decisions are not taken by by Cabinet in a public meeting: they are taken in private at a pre-meeting which the public, and most councillors, never see. Furthermore, £229,000 is entirely within the gift of the leader of the council every year to shore up their leadership meaning the party is put above the interests of the public – listen to Theo Denniston on the way the public never sees how decisions are made and how trust needs to be and must be restored in councillors

Theo Denniston talks about the importance of transparency and working for the people – YouTube:

Leader who described Chiswick residents as “hardcore rump”, “desperate” and “irrelevant” jumps before he is pushed

OneChiswick welcomes the eventual resignation last night of Hounslow Council Leader Steve Curran. In an apparent fratricide running through Hounslow Labour, which has already deselected Cabinet Members Hanif Khan and Lily Bath, and seen another, Candice Atterton step down, OneChiswick is pleased that the leadership that has forced unwanted changes upon Chiswick is finally going, whether it is jumping ship or being pushed.

Despite realising he was finished, in his resignation speech Cllr Curran still had the audacity to say that “we have always had the good intentions of the residents at heart”.  Perhaps he forgets that in Hounslow’s own consultations over 80% of respondents consistently opposed the changes in Chiswick (in some cases over 90%). Perhaps Cllr Curran also forgets describing the people of Chiswick who opposed his dictatorial regime as a “hardcore rump”, that “need to start to grow up”, as “embarrassing” and “as desperate as they are irrelevant”?

Statement from the Leader on the Council’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood programme | London Borough of Hounslow

In contrast to Cllr Curran’s attacks on Chiswick, it is noted that before jumping last night, a vote of no confidence in Cllr Curran was proposed. This motion accused Cllr Curran of “staggering abuses” of the Labour candidate selection process, including the “failure to stop people paying [Labour Party] membership fees in return for…votes” and “trumped up charges and false allegations about sitting councillors”.

As Cllr Curran’s Labour colleague Cllr Theo Dennison said, “It is with absolutely no regrets that I welcome his resignation.”  “In recent months we have seen the dark side of Steve Curran and it is most unfortunate to see the damage I believe he has done.”

The people have Chiswick have known this for some time and are relieved that Hounslow Labour has finally realised this.

Last week Cllr Curran was overheard saying on the 267 bus from Hammersmith to Hounslow to be “grateful that he didn’t have to take it too often”, after a delayed 45 minute journey caused by his own C9 cycle lane.  At least Cllr Curran can now head off into the night in his own diesel Range Rover.

The fratricide still leaves two members of the current Cabinet standing for re-election who share significant blame for the blight inflicted on Chiswick: Cllr Guy Lambert, who denied his membership of Hounslow Cycling Campaign was a conflict of interest, and Cllr Katherine Dunne, who famously finally ‘fessed-up’ to her membership of Hounslow Cycling in an outrageous outburst at members of the public in a council meeting last summer

. Katherine Dunne lets mask slip when challenged on conflict of interest by resident. – YouTube

Both face investigation by the Local Government Ombudsman for failing to declare their conflicts of interest in clear contravention of the Council’s own constitution.  Cllr Dunne is up for re-selection on Thursday night. 

When OneChiswick started its campaign in the summer of 2020, its wish was to engage constructively with the Leaders of Hounslow Council to have solutions that worked for the needs of local residents and businesses and was also positive for the active walking and cycling initiatives. We have always been particularly concerned about the needs of the elderly and disabled and otherwise vulnerable who have been the worst hit. 

The leadership of Hounslow Council refused at any stage to listen to any constructive engagement and forced its unwelcome and damaging measures through. We hope that whatever new Council leadership emerges, there will a change of tone and a genuine desire to listen work with local people and not against them.  

Ends 

Press Release dated 2nd December 2021

The legal challenge in respect of the temporary cycleway scheme on Chiswick High Road has now been withdrawn by OneChiswick Ltd. 

The challenge for Judicial Review was made on the basis of an Experimental Traffic Order “C9T” in 2020 on which there were significant safety concerns about the cycleway’s design and discrimination against, and failure to consider, groups who were elderly, disabled, visually impaired and others who merit consideration under the Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”).

Hounslow Council is in the process of replacing that Order with a new Traffic Order (“ETO2021”) and construction has already begun. This will  run for another 18 months and once again is described as “temporary”.    

There are substantial modifications to the original scheme, which reflect many of the concerns made by OneChiswick but none reflect feedback from the consultation on PSED that the Council lauded in August that it would “listen” to.   Nor does it show the evidence of the pollution these changes have caused through traffic displacement, simply because it has not been measured (save for one device whose location after the changes became less relevant as the main traffic was now closer to the CHR). A tree on the Chiswick High Road has just been cut down to allow for the new works. 

OneChiswick Ltd is now studying the detail and lawfulness of the new ETO2021 and related decisions issued in November as it considers its next steps.  

OneChiswick Ltd will continue to apply the resources that it has to campaign against road changes that are divisive, damaging, and in some instances dangerous, to Chiswick residents, to Chiswick High Road and in the wider Chiswick area – especially on behalf of the most vulnerable groups in the community. 

OneChiswick thanks all of those who have given so much help in the form of active volunteering, generous donations and moral support to its hard fought campaign. 

Ends

*b) Notes that, at Cabinet on 20 July 2021, the Council resolved to withdraw the current ETOs for the scheme and make a new ETO (C9 2021) to trial a range of alterations to the scheme design to address issues noted in data collected on, and responses received to, the temporary scheme 

Extract from the TfL Board Statement

R (OneChiswick) v London Borough Hounslow

Transport for London Statement

We were named as an Interested Party in a claim for judicial review and associated statutory challenge brought by a local pressure group against the London Borough of Hounslow, challenging Hounslow’s decisions to implement the temporary C9 Cycleway. Following monitoring of the scheme, Hounslow announced that it will bring the current scheme to an end and make a new Experimental Traffic Order implementing a modified version of it to address some of the impacts. The Claimant has discontinued its claims, bringing the legal proceedings to an end

Announcement on November 3rd 2021

We would like to correct some misleading speculation fuelled in social media in the last day or two about the current position of OneChiswick Ltd and its position regarding the Judicial Review challenge on the C9 Cycleway. OneChiswick Ltd has not withdrawn its Challenge for Judicial Review. 

This challenge was issued last November, against an Experimental Traffic Order – ETO for the Temporary C9 – C9T.   It raised funds to take the process through the High Court and the due date for a trial would have been this month.  

 In July 2021, the London Borough of Hounslow suddenly announced the intention that it would drop this Order and create a new Traffic Order in its place – “TC9R.”    It said that there would be substantial modifications to the design of the Cycle Way including new safety features.  This was passed by the Cabinet in July and approved by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in August, at which Cllr Hanif Khan promised a comprehensive 21 day consultation. But this hasn’t yet become a reality. 

The Council has not yet dropped the ETO for the Temporary C9 – C9T -neither has the new Traffic Order nor the results of the consultation have been published.   A 21 day consultation was conducted during the school holidays in August and September.  The Council had indicated that it expected both to be published by the end of September but this has not yet happened. 

OneChiswick Ltd is still waiting, along with the rest of the community in Chiswick for the London Borough of Hounslow’s next steps and will respond accordingly.

OneChiswick remains committed to campaigning for the welfare of the people in Chiswick, their need for safety, mobility and good access and is grateful for the generous support it continues to receive from the local community. 

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PRESS RELEASE *******PRESS RELEASE *******PRESS RELEASE *******

OCTOBER 8TH 2021

HOUNSLOW COUNCIL DAMNED BY LOCAL OMBUDSMAN – FOR IMPOSING ACCESS RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT SUITABLE GROUNDS  (TO TURNHAM GREEN TERRACE AND DEVONSHIRE ROAD DURING COVID 19)

The independent Local Government Ombudsman, a body that listens to complaints against councils, has severely criticised Hounslow Council and its failures when Turnham Green Terrace and Devonshire Road were closed to all vehicles (except buses and blue badge holders) last year to enable social distancing as a result of Covid -19. 

The Decision, following an investigation by a complaint by a local resident, highlighted many flaws by the Council officers in closing these roads to through traffic and imposing fines – quotes below.

The Ombudsman’s Decision provides independent evidence that Hounslow Council, and its officers, felt they had the power to do whatever they wished with traffic on Turnham Green Terrace and Devonshire Road.  This was clearly misplaced. 

What is emerging is that without recourse to adequate technical reasoning, without adequate consideration of the requirements of PSED and contrary to its own stated policy about closing major roads, the Council was determined to introduce measures to support cycling and walking, without regard for the consequences for the majority of residents and traders in Chiswick.

3 specific concerns are highlighted in the following texts extracted from the Decision.

Flaw 1 – Lack of evidence

“First, while I recognise the Council provided some reasons, I note these were general in nature, saying the closures were considered beneficial to pedestrians and cyclists. I do not consider these statements alone adequately explain the decision to close the roads in question to through traffic.

l expected to see some evidence to show that officers considered the potential impact of these proposals. But there is no record of what consideration the Council gave to various factors which may have been relevant to its decision. For example, it is not recorded:

64. What consideration officers gave to how much vehicular or bicycle traffic was thought to use these routes;
65. Why cyclists would benefit from these short stretches of road closed to most other traffic given they did not form part of any integrated bicycle corridor;
66. Why pedestrians may further benefit from closing the road to through traffic given the decision to already widen the footways;
67. What officers thought would happen to vehicles if they could not transit directly. This is especially surprising in the case of Turnham Green Terrace which is a classified ‘B’ road and acknowledged a ‘major road’ by the Council. One of the stated aims of the Council’s policy was to prevent residential roads being used as ‘rat runs’ – a term understood to refer to residential roads being used as an alternative to major roads. So, to divert traffic from a major road on to other residential roads would appear contradictory.”

On this first point the Ombudsman concludes:

            “I would still have expected the Council to keep some record of its thinking. I consider the lack of record keeping to explain how the Council decided to close these roads to through traffic justifies a finding of fault.”

Flaw 2 – Cursory analysis of impact on other road users

“Second, there is also no record of how the PSED was considered in respect of each road closure. I find the Council was conscious of the need to have regard to its PSED in respect of each decision. It referenced this in the second officer report issued in May 2020. It is also inferred by its decision to retain access to both roads for parking for blue badge users.

However, it is evident from the October 2020 paper to Cabinet that its consideration of the PSED was general and cursory. While we would not have expected it necessarily to carry out a full PSED assessment, there is no record to suggest that it considered the potential impact of the closures on groups other than those with disability but who might have other protected characteristics, particularly that of age. This is a section of the population less likely to cycle or walk significant distances.

It is also a section of the population more likely to be reliant on public transport yet also reluctant to use public transport during the pandemic. Again, I would expect to find some record that officers considered this section of the population in its decision making. But none has been provided. That too justifies a finding of fault.”

Flaw 3 – Contradiction

“Third, there is the contradiction between the paper the Council published in early May 2020 and its action in using the Streetscape measures to close Turnham Green Terrace to through traffic. That paper explicitly said the Council would not use this policy to close major roads. Yet three weeks later that is what it proposed to do. There is no explanation for this change in position. That was a fault.”

Comment: The Ombudsman has exposed a coercive culture within Hounslow Council that does not understand Chiswick and suffers from being both physically and mentally remote from the area in its decision making.

The decision makers appear ignorant of the fact Chiswick has the highest take up of cycling already in the Borough and is the least car dependent part of the Borough. 

This suggests their energies would be better focused on other areas of the Borough where greater benefits would be derived from encouraging cycling and walking and less dependence on car use.

Contrary to many claims by the more extreme members of the cycling community, OneChiswick supports improvements for both cycling and walking but there has to be a balanced approach which fully recognises the needs of all members of the Chiswick community and improvements should be agreed upon through proper consultation and not by coercion.

Cllr Sam Hearn, spokesperson on traffic and transport for the Hounslow Group of Conservative Councillors commented,

“The response of the Ombudsman has confirmed what many of us have known for some time: When they were engaged in placing restrictions on access to Turnham Green Terrace and Devonshire Road the behaviour of those acting on behalf of Hounslow Council fell well below the standard that residents should reasonably expect from their local authority. We believe that this reflects, a systemic failure by the council to properly understand its responsibilities and duties, and in addition a blind unquestioning adherence to a policy that has been overwhelmingly rejected by residents. The complainant is to be congratulated on his persistence in holding the council to account.”

*****PRESS RELEASE*****PRESS RELEASE*****PRESS RELEASE *****

OneChiswick calls for LB Hounslow to reverse its decision to permanently close Chiswick roads – 31ST AUGUST 2021

On the Friday before the Bank Holiday weekend, without giving prior notice to local councillors, LB Hounslow sneaked out a report announcing its decision to make permanent many of the emergency “Streetspace” traffic orders it introduced last year under the guise of being necessary measures to deal with the Covid pandemic, to increase social distancing and encourage active travel.

Councillor Hanif Khan, Hounslow’s Cabinet Member for Transport has been profuse in declaring how the Council has listened to the views of local people before making these decisions.  In June he couldn’t have been clearer in his press statement on the Streetspace schemes:

“I want to thank the thousands of people who took part in the consultation.”  “We are continuing to listen to what residents and our local business community are telling us about the Streetspace trials, with the aim of retaining the best of the schemes, but also being prepared to amend or remove trials where they are not working.”

LB Hounslow ran a 6 month consultation on the temporary measures, as required by law. However the results show a completely different picture to that presented by Councillor Khan and Hounslow Council. In 6 of the road closures in Chiswick that the Council will now make permanent, there was overwhelming local opposition to the proposals:

Scheme to be made permanent by Hounslow’s 27 August announcement	Number of respondents to LB Hounslow consultation	% of respondents to LB Hounslow consultation who were “Strongly opposed”	% of respondents to LB Hounslow’s consultation who said “It should be stopped / reversed immediately”
Fishers Lane	1,124	88%	84%
Hartington Road	967	77%	69%
Devonshire Road	659	87%	79%
Staveley Road	868	69%	66%
Park Road	435	86%	82%
Duke Road	137	88%	88%

Councils like Redbridge, Ealing and Harrow have withdrawn their LTNs with less or even equivalent opposition.

Hounslow took notice of residents’ discontent with the measures on Turnham Green Terrace and Devonshire Road, although Devonshire Road measures have only been partially reversed and it remains closed overnight (from 5pm to 8am), year round for reasons Hounslow Council refuse to explain (we have asked).  

Schemes changed	Number of respondents to LB Hounslow consultation	% of respondents to LB Hounslow consultation who were “Strongly opposed”	% of respondents to LB Hounslow’s consultation who said “It should be stopped / reversed immediately”
Devonshire Road	659	87%	79%
Turnham Green Terrace	2,582	89%	84%

Why is the council making a considerable number of Streetspace measures permanent in the face of similar opposition from local residents?

If this is what Hanif Khan (councillor for Hanworth Park in Feltham) calls listening, then he must also be deaf, at least to the sounds of Chiswick residents. Thousands of them, as he has acknowledged. 

OneChiswick requests that LB Hounslow reconsiders these decisions based on the overwhelming opposition of local residents and asks why Cllr Khan is not listening to local residents? 

OneChiswick has no connection with any damage to Council traffic counters

June 1st Statement  

Exactly one month ago, accusations were made and repeated on social media without any evidence or indeed any truth whatsoever, which insinuated that members of OneChiswick had vandalised a garden and destroyed some flowers. It soon became clear these claims were in fact ludicrous and those claiming it quickly withdrew their insinuations. 

 Now just one month later it appears that traffic counters set up by Hounslow Council around Chiswick have been damaged which is very bad news for all of us who want the collection of good accurate traffic data.   Some councillors have have suggested this is deliberate vandalism. It is unclear whether this happened as a result of any systematic criminality. Other people have suggested it was the work of young foxes who can be very destructive indeed.   We don’t know and given that there appears to be so much damage over so many sites – the police should be called to investigate before further accusations are made and hasty conclusions reached. 

What we can categorically state is that OneChiswick had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any of this.  We are against the imposition of LTNs and the unsafe Cycle Lane but we are in favour of the proper collection of accurate traffic data and we are entirely against law breaking or vandalism of any kind. 

It has been further alleged by the ChiswickCalendar website which is known for its eager and consistent support of the activities of Hounslow Council and its Lower Traffic Neighbourhoods policies that:

“The Facebook group OneChiswick, who are taking the council to Judicial Review over the cycle lane through Chiswick, published a list of locations where the traffic counting strips had been placed a few days earlier.”  

This is a highly misleading statement and we have written to the editor Bridget Osborne about this asking her to remove it. 

There was a wide ranging and legitimate discussion in the private Facebook group about the traffic counters not just in Chiswick but in the entire Borough and even across London but no list of locations was published. 

OneChiswick is a campaigning organisation who operate entirely within the law to achieve a just and lawful outcome for the residents of Chiswick who are overwhelmingly against the changes being imposed by the London Borough of Hounslow. We will never encourage or carry out any vandalism and will continue to refute and resist any concerted bogus claims to discredit our reputation.  

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UPDATE ON TIMING OF JUDICIAL REVIEW

“The Judicial Review which was originally due to be heard on June 17/18 will now be postponed until September or early October. This decision was agreed mutually between all the parties; One Chiswick Ltd, London Borough of Hounslow and Transport for London and has been confirmed by the Judge, Mr Justice Kerr.

This will ensure that it  is heard after the TfL’s appeal against judgment against them in the UTAG (taxi drivers’s) case. which  will be reviewing the lawfulness of the Streetspace programme. It will also give all parties more time to review the evidence, which is extensive, and allow time for discussions between the parties” 23rd May 2021

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Hounslow Council is Not Listening and Wants To Waste More Taxpayers Money on Streetspace Schemes that Residents have Overwhelmingly Rejected

(A letter to Hounslow Council in response to Steer’s report (below) on the overwhelming rejection of Hounslow’s Streetspace Measures:)

‘OneChiswick welcomes the confirmation of the “overwhelming opposition” to Hounslow’s Streetspace Schemes revealed in the Council’s Interim Report this week. The silent majority has spoken. In accordance with the public’s wishes, OneChiswick calls on the Council to reverse all Streetspace Schemes by 21 June. 

This local opposition is very understandable and follows on from the judgement handed down by Justice Lang in January 2021 that both the Mayor of London and TfL’s London Streetspace Plan (and the associated Interim Guidance for Boroughs) were unlawful.  Many Councils wisely ripped out their schemes followingthis judgement. Only the most extreme are holding out.

Hounslow Council is now faced with:

-The schemes being unlawful

– Overwhelming opposition to the schemes from residents and businesses, as reported by their own consultants in their own report

– Residents becoming alarmed that this is the most undemocratic Council in the history of Hounslow, as it proposes wasting even more money on schemes its residents have said they don’t want. 

OneChiswick was formed to stand up for Chiswick and resist these unwanted road changes. It has been entirely vindicated in its position about the level of opposition across Chiswick.  

It is now clear that OneChiswick, does indeed represent the majority view. Hounslow Council has had an unfortunate tendency to promote, favour and resource minority groups who command little respect in the community.

Hounslow claimed that people would come to adapt and accept these changes but in fact opposition is growing daily as more and more people become increasingly inconvenienced:being forced into circuitous routes to and from their own homes; suffering protracted delays on bus transport across Chiswick; hold ups to emergency services; and having to deal with the delays to much needed community care.

The Hounslow Streetspace schemes are failing on another key measure.  They are increasing pollution levels rather than reducing them as witnessed by the queues on Acton Lane and South Parade, Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick High Road, Chiswick Lane, Goldhawk Road, the A316 and Burlington Lane.  

The Council Is Not Listening – Democracy Is Being Brought Into Disrepute

The abandonment and immediate reversal of the damaging changes Hounslow Council wrought upon Turnham Green Terrace is a decision they are taking in response to the overwhelming opposition expressed in the consultation process. 89% of respondents “strongly opposed” the scheme and 84% requested its immediate reversal.

But is Hounslow Council really listening to local residents?

In his announcement, Councillor Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport and One Hounslow, said, “We recognised that many residents feel very strongly about Hounslow’s Streetspace trials and that’s why it was important for us to listen, to show we’re listening”.

Have you listened Mr Khan, or is this just to “show” you’re listening?  If you are listening, then:

▪ Why are you not reopening Fishers Lane to motor vehicles, when 88% of respondents “strongly opposed” the scheme and 84% requested its immediate reversal?   Further a petition against the scheme has been signed by over 10,000 Ealing and Hounslow residents. 

▪ Why are you not immediately removing the Devonshire Road Streetspace scheme, where it was “strongly opposed” by 82% of respondents, and 79% requested its immediate reversal?

▪ Why are you proposing to reintroduce the Turnham Green Terrace scheme, so resoundingly rejected by residents, by paying for consultants to investigate “public realm improvement” (ie to pedestrianise large parts of it). 

Mr Khan said he needed to be sure that the Council had heard the “voices of our communities”.  They have spoken, very loudly and very clearly and all of the schemes should be reversed by 21 June.

The Council Should Not Waste More Taxpayers’ Money

Instead of reversing the schemes immediately – the overwhelming response to the consultation – Mr Khan and Hounslow Council are intent on spending more Council Tax money on engaging “third parties” (ie consultants) hoping they may give them a different answer.  This is throwing good money after bad.

The implementation of Streetspace measures in Turnham Green Terrace cost £22,000, and that does not include the cost of staff to instal, maintain and remove the obstacles. This week, the council paid thousands of pounds more to have them ripped out.

It is time that Hounslow Council actually listened to the public they represent, instead of pretending to. To waste further money on Streetspace measures in the face of such overwhelming public opposition brings democracy into disrepute.

In the Council’s own consultation, residents in Chiswick (and across Hounslow) have overwhelmingly rejected the illegal Streetspace measures that Hounslow Council implemented. In the same survey residents overwhelmingly requested the immediate removal of the Streetspace measures.

OneChiswick requests of Hanif Khan and Hounslow Council that:

– All Streetspace measures in Devonshire Road and Fishers Lane are reversed immediately. 

-All remaining schemes are removed by 21 June 2021.

The people of Chiswick have spoke many times this year.  The message is absolutely consistent.  Will Hounslow Council listen?’ 

ENDS 21st May 2021

CHISWICK NEEDS YOU!

Campaign leaflet to raise funds for the judicial review of C9(T), lands on doormats throughout Chiswick

OneChiswick, the group campaigning to reverse the road changes, is today starting to distribute a striking new leaflet specifically to raise more funds for the upcoming judicial review of C9T (now scheduled for early autumn), the temporary cycle lane on Chiswick High Road.

The leaflet features the iconic image used by Lord Kitchener to recruit troops for the first World War, to attract the attention of residents and encourage donations.  The back of the leaflet contains information on the judicial review and the many reasons why C9(T) and other Streetspace schemes need to be reversed and residents consulted properly.  It coincides with unprecedented queues of traffic and related pollution as we emerge from lockdown and includes a QR code that links to the group’s GoFundMe fundraising account.

Speaking about this latest stage of the campaign, a spokesperson for OneChiswick said,

“Residents and businesses remain extremely angry about the changes and the way in which their views have been ignored and rejected.  Gridlock, pollution, long detours and millions in unfair fines are not their only concerns.  They are also angry about the inequality C9(T) causes for disabled people, frail or elderly and for the many worrying delays to the emergency, medical and  care services and our public transport, on which everyone relies. 

More and more people are also deeply concerned about the devastating impact of C9(T), the road closures and removed parking are having on so many shop owners.  Chiswick has also become a no go area for the many who used to visit our shops, restaurants and community from neighbouring places.  We hope for a generous response to our appeal to cover the costs of the judicial review – it is one of our best hopes to bring back the Chiswick we love.”

OneChiswick has set up a GoFundMe page for donations: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/onechiswick-united-against-streetspace-changes

OneChiswick is encouraging residents to put the leaflet in their windows, just as many did with its previous poster “Hounslow Council is Destroying Chiswick”.

ENDS

Press Release 23 Feb 2021

LOCAL BUS DRIVER CONFIRMS C9 IS A DISASTER FOR CHISWICK 

 AND PREDICTS IT WILL BE “MAYHEM” AFTER LOCKDOWN

In a hard-hitting interview a local Chiswick bus driver has confirmed that C9 is a disaster for Chiswick bus drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and other road users.  He describes being in a near miss with a cyclist and is fearful of what might happen if there is a major incident requiring all emergency services to travel through Chiswick. 

The bus driver, who has asked to remain anonymous, currently drives E3, 272 and H91 buses and has over 11 years’ experience driving buses in London.  He volunteered to be interviewed because he is so frustrated by the effects of C9. 

Speaking candidly, he describes a near miss incident when he stepped off the bus at a changeover point and nearly got run over by a cyclist who was going in a different direction.  This was “a big breach” in safety, he said.  

He anticipates a “big, big, big, clash” if an ambulance, a fire vehicle and police need to get through Chiswick High Road to reach a significant emergency incident. 

On travel times he said bus journeys had been drastically affected particularly at changeover points, when buses are loading, and at bus stops, and that this was affecting local businesses.  “There are big long queues” which slow down others’ journeys on Chiswick High Road.  He added that it “is not acceptable” especially “when you think about the ripple effect of it”.  

“Let’s watch out when everything goes back to normal … it’s going to be mayhem on Chiswick High Road,” he added.  

“The people who are behind the idea, they need to go back to the drawing board and have a rethink and re-plan – listen to the bus drivers, listen to the locals, listen to the passengers and then we can get a better Chiswick” he concluded.  

The bus driver was interviewed by local resident Marjorie Frew. She asked him for his view and his immediate response showed just how much C9 is of concern to him and his bus driver colleagues.  She then asked him if he would be willing to be interviewed, mindful of the risks involved in speaking out.  He agreed saying it was extremely important to tell people just how concerned bus drivers are.  

The interview is attached and is available to view/listen.  The driver’s words are spoken exactly as delivered by an actor, to preserve the bus driver’s anonymity.

OneChiswick, the local group of residents campaigning for a common- sense approach to meeting the challenges of the climate emergency, is now working towards its judicial review of the illegal C9 which is planned for 16th/17th June.  It is encouraging residents to contribute to the legal costs by donating via its GoFundMe account: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/onechiswick-united-against-streetspace-changes

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The bus driver interview: is available to view and is attached; the voice is spoken by an actor to protect the identity of the driver.
• The transcript: of the interview is also attached.
• OneChiswick. OneChiswick is a group of Chiswick residents who have come together to represent the views of the majority of Chiswick residents and businesses.  It is working to reverse the road access and parking changes that Hounslow and Ealing councils have imposed through the Streetspace project, LTNs and C9T.  OneChiswick fully supports and encourages walking and cycling (many in the group are keen and regular cyclists) and the need to respond to the pandemic and the climate emergency.  It is the execution, and the lack of full and proper professional consultation, to which it objects.
• Fundraising for the judicial review of C9: On 12th February 2021 at a decisions meeting at the High Court it was confirmed that there would be a judicial review of Hounslow council’s decision on C9T – early autumn 2021.  It is now fundraising to cover its legal costs.  Please donate via its GoFundMe account: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/onechiswick-united-against-streetspace-changes
• Petition to re-open Turnham Green Terrace and Fishers Lane; with nearly 10,000 signatures: https://www.change.org/p/hounslow-and-ealing-councils-petition-against-closure-fishers-lane-and-turnham-green-terrace-in-chiswick-to-cars
• Petition to consult on South Chiswick traffic measures; with nearly 3,000 signatures:  https://www.change.org/p/hounslow-council-south-chiswick-traffic-measures 
• Website: https://onechiswick.com/

 For further information please contact

The OneChiswick team on: [email protected]

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Press Release 17th February 2021

High Court grants OneChiswick date for Court Case to Fight the Undemocratic, Unlawful and Unsafe C9 cycleway.

OneChiswick, the group set up to reverse the undemocratic, unlawful and unsafe road changes in Chiswick and stop the abuse of power by the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH) has achieved a notable first objective.

The 12 February High Court Decision

On 12^th February the High Court directed that One Chiswick Limited’s Judicial Review application in respect of LBH’s decision to implement a temporary bidirectional cycle lane on Chiswick High Road (@C9 Cycle Lane). 

One Chiswick says that this decision was unlawful and the C9 Cycle Lane is unsafe, causes increased pollution and is clearly intended to be permanent. Further, it was implemented without any prior consultation.

The Court hearing has been set for 17 June 2021.  

The C9 Cycle Lane was opened in December 2020 and has been condemned by the majority of Chiswick’s residents, including disability groups and local businesses, as it took out the bus lane causing massive queues for buses and cars, creating more idling traffic and pollution and restricting the movement of all emergency services.  In addition:

• Chiswick’s most vulnerable residents now have cross the C9 Cycle Lane with the real risk of collision to reach the bus stop and then to wait at floating bus stops with no cover,
• Cars are regularly seen driving into the cycle lanes at key junctions having accidently mistaken them for lanes.  
• Carers say that journeys that once took them 10 minutes have increased more than four-fold and they are missing appointments.
• The C9 Cycle Lane is not safe for cyclists – there have already been several accidents.

All of these problems will be magnified many times over once the Covid restrictions are lifted. 

Comments 

A spokesperson for OneChiswick says:

“LBH and TfL say this a temporary scheme for COVID, but spending over £250,000, ripping out bus lanes and pedestrian islands, and inserting new traffic light systems is not temporary.  Their supporters at London Cycling Campaign are on record that it is not a temporary scheme; that is unlawful.  

Look at what neighbouring (London Borough of) Hammersmith and Fulham have done on King Street with the barriers. That is temporary. Chiswick High Road is clearly not.

Worse still, they have completely ignored the most vulnerable, the disabled, the elderly and those who need to use public transport.  This is a dereliction of their duty of care by the London Borough of Hounslow. 

This ruling is a major step forward in our fight to have this illegal scheme reversed and return Chiswick to what it was before.  Sadly, we have had to take TfL and LBH to court which has costs. We urge residents, businesses and people who love to come to Chiswick to shop, relax and meet their friends to donate to this worthwhile cause through our Go Fund Me platform https://uk.gofundme.com/f/onechiswick-united-against-streetspace-changes.  A significant amount has been raised so far but the next phase is going to be particularly expensive.”

OneChiswick

OneChiswick which started as a Facebook group, now has a website, OneChiswick.com, a Go Fund Me Page and a petition (that has nearly 10,000 signatures on it) opposing these schemes.https://onechiswick.com/https://uk.gofundme.com/f/onechiswick-united-against-streetspace-changeshttps://www.change.org/p/hounslow-and-ealing-councils-petition-against-closure-fishers-lane-and-turnham-green-terrace-in-chiswick-to-cars