Forum Topic

At last!

Just to update people on the saga of the shortening of the Dawes Avenue/Twickenham Rd. median strip, which created a problem of illegal right hand turns into Dawes Avenue in the face of oncoming traffic, when this was the very reason it was originally lengthened! After much communication I have to thank Ed Mayne who did listen and who went to see the situation for himself which has resulted in a rethink. The only fly in the ointment as I see it, is that Traffic are still banging on about if they lengthen the strip then they'll have to widen Twickenham Rd. at this point, as they think it would be dangerous for cyclists?? Personally I think this is unnecessary as I've not heard of any problem with cyclists at this point. I shall be watching this matter with interest

Vanessa Smith ● 4095d16 Comments

I would like to say thanks to Cllrs. Foote and Mayne and also Mark Frost Hounslow's head of Traffic, for the sensible and full discussion that was held on site at Dawes Ave/ Twickenham Rd. yesterday. The CCTV camera is picking up on average almost 30 drivers a day doing an illegal right hand turn into Dawes Ave. which I must admit stunned all of us. Even I did not imagine it would be that bad. To take things forward the data will be analysed to see if it is the same drivers, but I made the point this may well be a lot more once the school terms starts, so this are will need monitoring then. There may also be some temporary physical barriers installed once the data is clearer and also consideration of the width of the current strip and cycle lanes will need to be re-assessed.

Vanessa Smith ● 4017d

Some progress - awaiting further up-date and hopefully a site meeting irrespective of CCTV cameras.

Vanessa Smith ● 4022d

Guess what? Email received this morning from Cllr. Foote asking the traffic dept. if the CCTV cameras have been installed!! Forgotten apparently the site meeting for people to actually look at the site and situation for themselves. No - far easier to allow traffic officers who caused the problem to cover their a*ses and arrogantly to do just as they please. It is also the case that L.B.H. took over civil enforcement powers for moving traffic offences a few years ago, (and illegal r.h. turns was one of the movements) - the report also raised the possibility of 'increased income' from fines - would you credit it? So another possible source of income trumps road safety and allows officers to waltz over elected councillors, and fly in the face of common sense, appalling. I read an article recently in which a councillor reckoned local councillors would be a thing of the past in the near future, from this joke I'd say we were pretty much already there in Hounslow.

Vanessa Smith ● 4023d

Having been contacted by the head of traffic with a possible date of 4th August for this site meeting, I then got another missive from him asking what dates I was available - none of them being the 4th?! Cllrs. Foote and Mayne had both confirmed their availability for the morning of the 4th, so there we were - or not. I have now had e-mails copied to me from both councillors that they sent to the head of traffic enquiring if the Monday 4th visit was taking place, response? - None! Never has the saying couldn't organise a p*ss up in a brewery seemed so apt. And these people are let loose to cause mayhem on our roads................If I were a councillor I would NOT be impressed.

Vanessa Smith ● 4024d

Cllr. Foote the cabinet member who will make this decision and to whom I sent a lengthy e-mail the other day has said he wants to visit the junction and see things for himself. Cllr.Ed Mayne will also be there and me too, along with the Head of Traffic! Cllr. Foote - elected in May - has obviously got the right idea and good for him, I am so glad he won't be led by the nose by officers reports. Obviously there isn't a guarantee things will be restored to normal service but I shall stand my corner. I am just so cross that it's taken all this time and effort, but it does prove what I've always said, until and unless you're a real pain in someone's a*se then no-one will listen. Fingers crossed.

Vanessa Smith ● 4027d

Great minds think alike! I sent a long e-mail last night to the cabinet member who will be making any decisions re this. I also made the point other options as in making the median strip narrower or higher whilst also lengthening it would negate any imagined 'pinch point'. It's all nonsense as the road width has remained the same anyway. Also my son a cyclist said all they are talking about is a few metres so how the hell will that really make all that difference to cyclists? But those few metres will make all the difference to stopping dangerous driving. What gets me is that these traffic people get a bee in their bonnet and don't seem to explore all the possible alternatives. I believe all this faffing is more about them not having to admit they made a gigantic bugger-up than anything else, why would you take away something that worked properly and cause this? I think it's the usual story of working from maps and not going to the site and actually looking for yourself. Why do they think we're all numpties and refuse to take account of local resident's opinions? I am keeping all Isleworth councillors in the loop.

Vanessa Smith ● 4028d

I can't say that I have noticed a particular cyclist pinch point problem - but perhaps that is why the white line cycle lane marking disappears in a couple of places. I should have another look.Is there a solution of installing a narrower section of median strip for the extension ? Or perhaps just plonking down in the centre of the road a couple of the planters used for segregation in Royal College Street :http://frontyardcompany.co.uk/blog/royal-college-street-planters-a-new-cycling-scheme/

Tim Henderson ● 4028d

Any spare CCTV cameras could have been used to save Morrisons recycling centre. ...  :(

Sarah Felstead ● 4029d

I think there's some money/grants being made available for some work and as usual they are casting around for a project to hang it on and get their share. Course wouldn't dream of actually letting it go to a really deserving place that really needs it. My youngest son is also a keen cyclist and uses the Twickenham Rd a lot, and his response when I told him about the 'pinch point' was - and I quote - "b****cks".

Vanessa Smith ● 4029d

I cycle that way home fairly regularly and don't see any "pinch point" resulting from the median strip being longer, nor in the past.Think Planet Traffic always feel a need to tinker to keep themselves occupied.

Adam Beamish ● 4029d

Quite concerned that traffic are going to recommend to the 'cabinet member' responsible, a Cllr. Foote, that CCTV is installed. They make me so mad, there's no other option they are giving and personally I think they just don't want to have to admit they've caused a problem by not doing their homework in the first place. According to them there is a 'pinch point' if the median strip is longer and they insist that some outfit to do with bikes, London cycle design are suggesting all these changes. Cyclists had just better hope that this shower are a lot more professional than the silly idiots who came up with the 'super cycle highway' shambles. Funny how we've not had any cyclists who've complained or know of any accidents in all the years the median strip was longer. The fact that cyclists, pedestrians and drivers going the opposite way are all put in more danger seems to pass them by. Whatever happened to putting your hands up and admitting you got it wrong? So we are now left with a problem that never existed and a refusal to put it right properly from the people who caused it. I feel sorry for Cllr. Foote - he will be hearing from me..................

Vanessa Smith ● 4029d

Right, situation is this, Traffic are suggesting CCTV at this junction although they agree that "will not do anything for road user's safety", which begs the question - then why bother? Cllr. Ed Mayne has said he thinks it is the road layout and not the transgression of the Highway Code that is the problem and of course he's absolutely right. I would want to see the police give an undertaking that they would use any CCTV evidence to prosecute someone and use it as evidence in court, sadly I have no confidence that that would be the case. Personally I think the solution is to stop messing around and go back to where we started and lengthen the median strip as we all know that actually works! I also replied by saying that if anyone had bothered to research why things were like they were then they'd have known the answer wouldn't they? Good job we're persistent isn't it?

Vanessa Smith ● 4031d

very silly - I can see you're determined.

Trudie Fuller ● 4036d

I thought I'd be reasonable and give them a while to get organised. However, I think getting on for two months is enough so will be chasing next week. I think they hope you'll get fed-up and go away - how silly!

Vanessa Smith ● 4038d

bump

Trudie Fuller ● 4038d

Any further developments on this?

Steve Taylor ● 4038d