| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:The long slow decline of Devonshire Road | |
| Posted by: | Bill George | |
| Date/Time: | 26/07/23 08:39:00 |
| Tom, not sure that data from 'a couple of traders' on TGT during an exceptional pandemic, when many people were forced to stay local, tell us very much. Also Penny seems generally to support the current arrangement that allows daytime access with evening restrictions, though we know these are not enforced. Whereas you and Paul seem to be arguing for closures. This is a typical and depressing thread. We have the usual activists who have never run a retail or hospitality business lecturing others on how they should do this. Pre current restrictions I never felt traffic on Devonshire Road as problematic whether going there to eat/ drink or shop, nor did I want to sit in the gutter to eat when this was an option, though maybe some other did. If we want to turn Devonshire Road into some form of pedestrian piazza, it would need a proper plan and community and business engagement. It may though bring conflicts with local residents in the evenings, as this thread already highlights, as well as raise concerns for some business that need access. If a consensus is found and plan adopted then great, but as with too many things it seems a small vocal group demands changes and then villifies those with any opposition. The local pet shop is a great community asset and the sort that has disappeared from many areas. Their needs should be properly considered and not discounted, as should those of other shops. Tom mentioned traffic cutting up from Hogarth roundabout on Devonshire Road which 'should' be on Chiswick Lane. Posts about HGVs getting stuck on Devonshire Rd show there is a problem. But part of the problem is the new layout at junction of Chiswick Lane/ CHR. Northbound there were two lanes, now only one. Combined with changes to light phasing we have less northbound capacity on Chiswick Lane and longer queues so mapping apps will divert traffic. Interesting story the other day about delays on King St in Hammermith where one of the lanes has gone for CS9. While it seems there were no 'significant' bus delays, traffic would back up regularly behind buses when they stopped at the stop by Boots. This would then back onto the gyratory and see knock on delays for this key route. It seems TFL acknowledge that nothing can be done. So here we have one of the main interchanges that traffic 'should' be on that sees capacity cut leading to more congestion. Yes there are too many cars, but no evidence that moving them around has really changed that with London still the most congested city in 2022 and bus speeds now lower than pre COVID. Most depressing of all to see that front page that any prospect of an accessible tube station in W4 has gone. If only we had an MP or local authority that would push the issue on our behalf as we saw in H&F and the MP there. Public transport is key. |