The plans by Catalyst Housing for Friary Park include the “joining up” of Friars Green, which is common land, to their piece of grass and the closure of the road which runs along the westside of the green in order to do so. The plans also show a “new road” which starts just past Antilles House, just short of the green, and will run through the new estate, exiting by the current exit, The Drive, which is opposite Harry’s Café. It is unclear what the purpose of joining up Acton’s Friars Green and removing the road. Common Land cannot be built upon nor fenced off, so it serves no purpose in that respect. We were initially told at the Catalyst workshops that the Council wish to open up the estate, but don’t wish for a rat run. Currently the estate is “private” with no through roads, so no rat-running. Closing the road that runs to the west of the green will mean the road which runs on the other side of the green and this “new road” will be used instead. This will cause the following problems: the road which runs on the other side of the green has its exit by the A40 slip road which sees many cars coming at some speed around that corner. Additionally, cars will use the cut-through new road, across Friary Park, and rush hour traffic will back-up ON the new estate, rather than rush hour traffic backing up on Friary Road opposite the railway, as it does currently. Furthermore, traffic coming off Horn Lane will want to take the new road through the estate to cut through to Friars Way, which means traffic will back up outside Harry’s Café, onto the proposed roundabout there, causing traffic jams. With around 2,500 people coming onto Friary Park estate and CrossRail, plus HS2 up the road, I can see traffic being a major issue through their nice new estate. We need someone to explain to us the purpose of taking the green to join up with Catalyst’s patch of green and in doing so, taking the road out of action. Councillors? Any clues?
Angela White ● 4062d