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Swyncombe Ave to be blocked off

Informed yesterday that borough engineers have been measuring up for the blocking off of Swycombe Ave.This is being claimed as a direct fallout of the LTNs in Northfields & Boston ManorTheres no doubt it is a bit busier and for longer. But then Windmill road and the section to Northfields is far busier and taking an age on the E2 even at usually quiet times of the day.But the LTNs have been installed in very quiet localities.I think the extra traffic is more down to the major roadworks in South Ealing Road and Culmington road/Church lane with huge diversions which feed to Northfields and Little Ealing Lane plus the Road works in Boston Manor road Half Acre leaving Swyncombe Ave. as an only through route for local traffic.A bus route uses the road for students only and yet for 70 years even London transport have been refused permission to operate a bus route through the road, even a hoppa type was refused in the 1990sBut in all honesty, Swyncombe has always been a busier road even when at school in the 1970s it was a bit of a race track and had long queues.Residents concerns were dismissed as long ago as 1971 when Gunnersbury School was planned to move to the locality and expand by 200%.  There were though more schools locally then but in recent months a new school has reopened at the bottom of the road. But then there were two thriving sports grounds which had traffic all weekend. That's gone now so it's actually quieter. But closing it?   That will be as damaging as the LTNs and divide a community up even more.The real losers will actually be the residents of Swyncombe Ave as they will have the same problems inflicted as those in LTNs are experiencing now, especially the further isolation of elderly, less able and infirm.This is the result of meddling where it was not needed. Creates a problem that did not exist, and spawns another problem in the next street. and on and on.Hounslow ought to be leaning on Ealing over the LTNs without consultation, not looking to expand on an already ineffective imposition.It has to be accepted too that it is the Key local link route for emergency services. The Ambulance Station is in Boston Manor road and is already badly affected by the LTNs.For this reason and that it is also the route to a rehabilitation hospital, that there are no speed humps to allow safe transit of frail patients.And the wisdom of closing Occupation lane is still rather poor as that is causing patient transport issues especially for volunteer tranpost who do not have the benefit of air suspension vehicles.It could be anyone of us,family, friends or colleagues that might need that facility at any time.But certainly something to calm the speeds of road users. It's one of the few roads where the 20mph is less observed.

Raymond Havelock ● 1261d30 Comments