All nine councillors representing Hounslow’s Chiswick wards have signed an open letter to the secretary of state urging him to act swiftly to reverse the damaging new traffic measures and prevent others in the pipeline being implemented without full a public consultation and a thorough review by independent professionals.
Speaking for the Hounslow Conservative councillor group, Cllr Sam Hearn, transport spokesman said:
“There is unanimity across Hounslow Council and amongst Chiswick residents that we want to end the scourge of rat-running, curb excessive speeds and discourage unnecessary car journeys. These are laudable objectives but the complex and draconian measures being imposed under the guise of the Covid-19 emergency are having many perverse effects. Many of the changes are sadly making the lives of residents worse, not better”.
He added, “Our attempts to engage constructively with Hounslow’s Labour administration and TfL have been largely rebuffed. There is surely no shame in admitting that you have got something wrong and that you need to pause while reconsidering? Hounslow Council is not prepared to do this. We are therefore left with no alternative but to call on the secretary of state to intervene and prevent further traffic chaos.”
The letter to secretary of state Grant Shapps is attached as a pdf GrantShappsLetterFromChiswickCllrs12Sept2020.
Signed by all nine Hounslow Chiswick councillors:
- Cllr Patrick Barr
- Cllr Joanna Biddolph
- Cllr Michael Denniss
- Cllr Gabriella Giles
- Cllr Ranjit Gill
- Cllr Sam Hearn
- Cllr Gerald McGregor
- Cllr Ron Mushiso
- Cllr John Todd
Copied to:
- Cllr Hanif Khan – Hounslow Council Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transport
- Cllr Guy Lambert – Hounslow Council Cabinet Member for Highways
- Cllr Katherine Dunne Hounslow Council Cabinet Member for Communities and
- Climate Emergency Heidi Alexander – Deputy Mayor of London (Transport)
- Tony Arbour – GLA Assembly Member
- Nick Rogers – GLA Assembly candidate
