Forum Topic

"We will not have a Windmill Road closure"

Said Guy Lambert in his weekly update.  It is closed - why?  When will it be opened again?  Perhaps somebody could give us some reliable information.

Alison Robins ● 648d38 Comments

A pathetic shambles.

N V Brooks ● 618d

There is now a Road Ahead Closed sign at the Jcn of Windmill and Swyncombe but it does not have any diversion signs. Or alerts that warn of no through routes or other road works impeding HGVs as well as all other traffic.

Raymond Havelock ● 618d

Closed again today as usual no warning

Robert Ayres ● 620d

Boring old Anne. Why not get Lambert to answer for himself.Just because you are on Tinder don’t assume the rest of us need to be. And if you think the world is full of beauty and love you ought to remove your head from whatever it’s plugged into and watch the news.You might just get a wake up to reality.

Simon Hayes ● 628d

'In reality the world is brutal, ugly and populated by plenty of selfish and self-absorbed individuals.'Is this a Tinder entry for 'How would you describe yourself'? Any takers?

Anne England ● 629d

Furthermore, the street lighting is owned maintained and paid for the LBE PFI.

Raymond Havelock ● 629d

With regard to Occupation Lane. It appears that Occupation lane itself falls into the London Borough of Ealing. The LBH Boundary runs only to the gallon the south side and the original Entrance to Clayponds Hospital also falls into the Borough of Ealing.It is visually supported in that all signage for the road is London Borough of Ealing.The road was refurbished and resurfaced by the London borough of Ealing less than 5 years ago, specifically to smooth access for rehabilitation outpatients.So it's closure at the West end is entirely illegal as Ealing residents would have to be consulted and the eastern closure can only be applied after the Hospital entrance and also should have been consulted to residents to the North and West.Transfer of the street to another borough also requires consultation and it appears there is no such transfer or consultation logged.Apparently this was raised with both LBH and LBE but both failed to respond during the lockdown.There's democracy for you.

Raymond Havelock ● 629d

Of course, the Windmill Road closure is temporary while they repair the motorway above. Maybe he’s upset it’s not permanent.The problem with utopian idealists like Lambert and his chums (and Sadiq Khan for that matter) is that they don’t live in the real world. They exist in a fantasy land where all theirs wet dreams come true and nobody has any need, problem or lifestyle that deviates from the plan. In reality the world is brutal, ugly and populated by plenty of selfish and self-absorbed individuals (many of whom are politicians).

Simon Hayes ● 629d

You're right. He and his cronies don't listen nor do they act when they can see a problem coming. As they knew there was months of disruption coming why did they not relax their LTNs to allow vehicles to cross from Windmill road to South Ealing road and even ask Ealing to open Occupation Lane for the duration to ease the congestion. No,it's easier to sit on his arse and complain that no one is listening to him.I was once told if you stick a red rosette on a donkey's arse in Brentford it would be voted in. So no more moans, you got what you voted for

Robert Ayres ● 629d

"So Lambert is furious that nobody is listening to him. What a shame. Now the fount of all knowledge knows what irritates most of us about him."That did make me chuckle and yes perhaps he will start to look at consultation results a little more seriously in the future though I doubt it if it does not fit the pre decided agenda

Paul Fisher ● 629d

So Lambert is furious that nobody is listening to him. What a shame. Now the fount of all knowledge knows what irritates most of us about him.

Simon Hayes ● 629d

What are Brentford Voice doing about this?  Maybe they should run a petition?They seem to have a damn sight more gravitas and common sense than our spineless council.

Raymond Havelock ● 630d

There is nothing to stop any individual contacting the Secretary of State.  I had thought of doing it myself - maybe others should as well.  I would not be optimistic that it would change anything but at least we would have tried.

Alison Robins ● 630d

None of that actually sorts the matter out.The fact that emergency services cannot move about when really needed even in the small hours) underlines the seriousness if the situation.That is aside from the fatality on Saturday morning of which there are no facts yet.But the dangers have already been raised.If Cllr Lambert and Ms Cadbury LBH and LBE cannot get this sorted then they need to go straight to the Transport Secretary of State .TfL are only interested in revenue and policies and clearly are hiding behind bureaucracy on Ealing Rd/ Sth Ealing Rd. The Junction of Windmill Road is a nightmare. The roadworks plant is often blocking and sight of the the now left only junction, cyclists for inexplicable reasons keep riding both ways irrespective of the traffic lights and the junction is blocked when you emerge into it.  It's dangerous for everyone.And the signage is either absent, moved or changed constantly and there is no advance warning at the Swyncome Ave/ Windmill road junction or indeed at Little ealing Lane or Northfields.Dangerous and shambolic .  It's just not good enough for one councillor on his own to be complaining, What are the others all doing? Ealing ones as well?

Raymond Havelock ● 630d

Thank you, Guy, for replying. Total lack of consideration for the people (us) who are having to live with this - the least they could do is provide local representatives with updates.They seem to have set up a kind of mission control/base camp in the middle of the Windmill Road junction with huts and vans and I have observed them strolling around with drinks and foodstuffs but any actual work seems to be of a covert nature so far.I do think TfL should be pressed in respect of these "regulations" - they ought to be able to specify which section of which regulations they are relying on to justify this misery and chaos.

Alison Robins ● 630d

The problem yesterday was caused by a fatal accident on the A4 which led to the A4 being closed between about 4 am and 2 pm. https://news.met.police.uk/news/witnesses-and-dash-cam-footage-sought-after-fatal-collision-in-hounslow-470407I was furious when I found Windmill Road had closed having been assured Windmill junction would only be closed at night. I was promised a weekly update from National Highways on when it would be reopened. All i got was flannel. For clarity, NH is an agency of the Department for Transport and they have no connection to or interest in the opinions of either the council or TfL.It is allegedly closed for safety, both of operatives and passers by who might have chunks of concrete falling on their heads. You might think it is actually for convenience of the contractor but I couldn't possibly commentI have written extensively about Ealing Road junction. I agree the new arrangements are nonsense and i contact TfL most days to protest but thus far they are adamant that they have no option because of regulations. I doubt that, and I, Ruth Cadbury and others keep saying that but get no change.The problems recently on the High St/Kew Bridge Road are a mixture of Cadent and Thames Water doing deep excavations to repair/mess with mains.This is delaying the Cycleway works, but not by much.

Guy Lambert ● 631d

11.30am Sat 5th - just got back from trip to supermarket and yes, Robert is right - people going like bats out of hell up and down Enfield, Avenue and Whitestile Roads, presumably in an effort to get onto the A4 westbound or to go south.Two questions:1. When will Windmill Road be open again?  Someone, somewhere must know the answer to this.2. Why is the offside lane of the A4 closed all the way between Windmill and Nightmare Roundabout. There is no work going on there, just a couple of vans parked from time to time.  If it could be opened on the approach to the roundabout that might do something to relieve the congestion and keep things moving down the A4.Northbound traffic now queues almost the entire length of South Ealing Road as far as McD's.  Must be horrible for the people living there.  The cycleway works on Kew Bridge Road caused total gridlock for about 15 mins the other morning and the only way it got unblocked was for drivers to ignore the temp signals on red and carefully manoeuvre round the works until things got going again.

Alison Robins ● 632d

Saturday 5th. Well today we see the result of Guy Lambert's LTNs. Windmill Road closed, all traffic diverted into Eastbourne Road but of course Lambert's LTN road block stops them going to South Ealing Road so they go up Enfield Road, everything from police,ambulance,trucks,vans and cars. You know Guy, Enfield Road, the narrow road where people park on the kerb and when they get to the top what do they find another of Guy's LTNs forcing them back on to, you guessed it, back onto Windmill Road.You really couldn't make it up. Yet another demonstration of the  moronic shower running the borough

Robert Ayres ● 632d

It is causing chaos and is quite deliberate on TfLs part.They make fools of even their Labour controlling pals districts.I think it is time for a proper petition and maybe linking up with other parts of London where TfL have messed up or Chaos Engineered problems that were not there previously

Raymond Havelock ● 635d

The closure of Windmill Road does not help, but the main issue is caused by the resetting of the A4/Ealing Road traffic lights. Previously north/south traffic and east/west traffic were given the green light at the same time. As a result, traffic flowed well. Since the traffic light phasing changed, making each line of traffic waiting at the junction run individually, there has been nothing but congestion (and the inevitable extra pollution caused by ultra-slow moving traffic). Yesterday afternoon it took me the best part of an hour to travel from Tesco Osterley to the Ealing Road junction - not because there was more traffic than usual, but because of the chaos caused largely by the A4/Ealing Road traffic lights(aided and abetted by the Windmill Road closure). It's not rocket science and it is clear that the system is not working. A cynic might suggest that it is in Kahn's interests to use these situations to deliberately create more congestion and pollution to justify his moneygrabbing ULEZ policy.

Mick Brent ● 635d

Gridlocked traffic by creation makes a complete folly of doing anything else green.Its summer hols when it's usually much quieter and calmer but not this time.The pollution from thousands of Idling vehicles passing along the A4 when it was previously moving fast enough to be minimal pollution is a crime in itself and by TfL who scream about perceived pollution but butter would not melt in their mouths when it comes to causing it.

Raymond Havelock ● 636d

Totally agree. They are so fixated on their green agendas they cannot see the havoc they are causing which go against all green ideals!

Elizabeth Price ● 637d

It has been hell all weekend. Almost impossible by Bus or Car to get to or from Brentford to South Ealing without going via Hanwell. Boston Manor Road is blowing up both ways and Windmill road has no advance signage that it is blocked and left turn only which in turn has had HGVs getting stuck unable to divert and turn around causing even more delays as they then have to add to the totally stuffed up A4 going west - Even late at night !.The apparent arrogance of TfL over the absolute mess of messing with traffic light phasing and making claims about legality of the 60 year old previous phasing method is a good enough example of why TfL are too politicised to do their job properly. The A4 ought to be removed from their control and the A4 and M4 unified as clearly the 3 organisations could not manage the opening of a Matchbox without agreement.This is clearly a ruse by TfL and has happened in other areas in North London and South East London where serious traffic delays have been created - and then used as justification for 'measures'.One wonders though just why Hounslow and Ealing Councils are not being vociferous in standing up for residents and local workers and if this persists it will result in even more local businesses throwing in the towel and moving out of the district althogether. 

Raymond Havelock ● 637d

That is why I qualified myself. The Conservatives in Canterbury were just as blinkered about this contolled traffic management, as the traditionally officious virtue signalling moralist jobsworths from the left, including the Labour Party.

Anthony Hawran ● 638d

If asked, I would definitely describe myself as a "left wing socialist" but in this instance if it has anything to do with left wing socialism I will have to rethink  the situation.  I feel it is more to do with idiots of whatever ilk rather than left or right!

Bernadette Paul ● 638d

More often than not, it is the virtue signalling moralists from the left, including the Labour Party that are the genius dreamt all that up. They like to show off their virtue, at the expense of the people.

Anthony Hawran ● 638d

All that has already been said and add to that the ridiculous LTNs and the closure of Swyncombe Avenue, etc., etc., multiple chaos and additional fuel consuption and therefore presumably even poorer air quality.  What genius dreamt all that up?

Bernadette Paul ● 638d

Try going south/north (or vice versa) across the A4 and you'll see what everyone's on about. Try getting from Ealing onto the A4.  Try doing it in the rush hour.  Stand at the junction between the A4 and Boston Manor Road at 7.30am and see queues of barely-moving traffic all the way up to Syon Lane.  All because of the new traffic lights at the Ealing Road roundabout, the closure of the Windmill Road crossover and the closure of one lane of the A4.  And apparently we have to endure this until Christmas.

Alison Robins ● 639d

No, I'm travelling to and from opposite Waterman's to Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre and then back from outside the small Sainsbury's at Kew Bridge to the New Road stop. In other words, not along or across the A4/M4. I do occasionally also get the bus from 'Brentford' side up to Ealing Broadway and, apart from the 65 sometimes being rather unreliable, haven't experienced any particular delays.

Anne England ● 639d

Try the Great West Road, all day this week. Boston Manor, South Ealing Road. This week traffic stretching from Watermans to Brentford and from Syon Lane into Brentford. Ealing Road to the start of the cycle works. And Green Dragon Lane is being closed to add to the mix! Oh and I forgot the new light phazing at GWR/ South Ealing Road. Try it and see!

Elizabeth Price ● 639d

Anne, are you travelling to/from the Ealing side of the A4?

Alison Robins ● 639d

I often get a bus from Kew Bridge (outside small Sainsbury's) to Brentford (65, 237, 267) and from Brentford to the Fountain Leisure Centre (237, 267) but haven't experienced this 'mayhem' 'from Kew to Brentford'. I do not have a regular time of travel - what times are you talking about?

Anne England ● 639d

No wonder that the Bus Company RATP DEV have a current recruiting drive for more drivers.There was an Open Day at Stamford Brook Garage today... new female bus drivers being the target.Perhaps they can cope with the the jams more comfortably. Whatever... the local delays are very frustrating ... for passengers too.

Jim Lawes ● 640d

Whole area in chaos and now we have temporary lights on Brentford Bridge to add to the mayhem! No wonder productivity is at an all time low. Khan has ulez and now we all sit in traffic jams from Kew to Brentford. Who is responsible for these crazy schedules? Heads should roll.

Elizabeth Price ● 640d

Not quite. Do as I did, after 34 years in my beloved Windmill Road: sell up and get out. I appreciate not everyone is in a position to do this. You can blame TFL all you like but LBH have been inactive collaborators in this it seems to me who played their part in other ways through LTNs and all the rest of it. Windmill Road was never perfect, but it was live-able. Now just the whipping boy of LBH and a hellhole both to navigate or to live in. With no end in sight.

Mike Paterson ● 640d

This is even worse than before. Especially for pedestrians and bus users. Delays and diversions and the sheer unpredictability are making things almost impossibleAt least South Ealing Road and Ealing Road was not stuffed up 24/7 like it is now.What happens in just a few weeks when the football season starts?  The whole of Ealing, Kew, Acton, Gunnersbury, et all will be rammed. It was bad enough with the A40, M3 and M4 and M25 all being restricted and the fallout from that. But right in the heart of Brenford hemming everything in and out is dreadful.Council needs to be ultra tough with TfL who are in part responsible for the A4 and  entirely responsible for the Ealing Road shambles and get on to the Minister.It may well be a good while back but when Margaret Thatcher got stuck on the A4 and remarked about the tat, dirt and delays and how that created a dreadful first and last impression for visitors to London, things happened within days.But this is not about impressions for visitors, or Margaret Thatcher it's about us. The ordinary great unwashed who happen to live or work here and being able to move around.Are there channels of direct complaint residents and employees can use  to lodge complaints other than an app?

Raymond Havelock ● 645d

Thank you Guy.  I saw your blog after I'd posted.  I suppose all one can do is monitor the congestion and keep nagging at them.

Alison Robins ● 646d

Apologies, I passed on what the project manager told me. See this week's blog. I was furious on Wednesday when i found I was misled.Just to be clear, this work is from National Highways, an agency of the central government Department for Transport.There is no democratic control of this outside the Secretary of State in the House of Commons Mark Harper MP.Hounslow Council and TfL have no control over this though we are all making our opinions clear, but there is no useful response.

Guy Lambert ● 646d