Forum Topic

CHURCHFIELD ROAD- SAVE OUR TREES!

So, I mentioned this in the churchfield road parking topic but feel it needs its own thread- it appears that 2 trees have been removed already to make way for the widened pavement. My understanding is that this widened pavement will continue down further and I'm pretty anxious that more trees will be removed to make way for this. Firstly, who do I contact at the council to complain and stop the removal of more trees from happening, secondly, what is the logic of putting a parking bay out of the road on a path anyway? As Joni Mitchell famously sang- They paved paradise, put up a parking lot.

Lee Harding ● 3080d13 Comments

If they are waiting for the right weather conditions before planting that should be about now.

Janice Evans ● 3077d

Exactly Marie, in the same way we were told there would be a Waitrose in the oaks to appeases the doubters, only for us to be told Waitrose had 'pulled out' once the work had begun. Don't trust anything this council say. That's why when they pull trees down and say they will be replaced when the conditions are better I don't believe they will plant any new ones at all.

Lee Harding ● 3077d

You make a good point Nathan but unfortunately the finished product seems to being drawn up by Officers who have never set foot in Churchfield Road and are working from some kind of car reducing policy. The trouble is that the specialist shops which make Churchfield Road what it is depend on customers who travel a distance to the hairdressers, butchers,wine shop, deli and the nicest restaurants. I have no faith that the benches planned for the wider pavements will make for a nicer experience for anyone except the street drinkers and have said so to the Regeneration department. We have complained again, this time to Councillor Bassam Mahfouz who is the Cabinet member responsible for the environment and highways. He has said he will re examine what is going on and I notice the Officer responsible returned from holiday yesterday. Staying silent until the work is complete is not an option. The Oaks management has finally got round to telling us that after many promises, there will be no community space in that huge building. Who to trust?

Maire Lowe ● 3077d

The pavement widening is likely to help pedestrianise the street further and potentially create more of an outdoor experience for cafe/restaturat diners. In terms of the trees a previous post stated they will be replaced when the time to plant them is ok. Prehaps everyone should wait to see the final product before moaning. Everyone wants investment in the area, howevever people on these forums hate change when we actually get some!

Nathan Macrides ● 3078d

What I don't understand is why cut them down in the first place only to replace them? They are trees that have been there for 60-80 years- if we replace them with new ones we have to wait 10 years for these to grow?!!!!And what stops cars knocking into them if the parking bay is now on the path?!!!I'm not sure I buy the concillors excuse they will be replaced when the weather is better and the conditions are right either, that sounds like an excuse to put off planting any and hoping we forget all about it in the future.

Lee Harding ● 3078d

We do need to have them replace all the trees they simply chopped down and threw away. Currently I can only see 1 space created for a new tree (close to Sainsbury's).That will mean 1 tree for that stretch and none across the road where they have replaced the pavement.Not sure who comes up with these schemes but if they wanted to splurge money making the place look nice...just plant a few more trees! At least that would also help the environment.

Mark Jarvis ● 3078d

I assume that where the pavement has been widened there will be no parking on the road but instead the parking will be on the "shared" pavement area (the parts of the pavement that have smaller paving stones).The issue, as I understand it from Tim English, is that the total number of car stopping places has been reduced.If those new spaces allow long parking with permit then it will prevent people who want to stop for a few minutes to shop.

Paul Webster ● 3078d

Daft!

Sarah Vickers ● 3078d

Surely there will be more large delivery lorries once the new shops are open so why reduce the width of the road

Janice Evans ● 3078d

It is utterly stupid.  So the road is narrowed for what reason I have no idea.  It worked perfectly well prior to the widening of the pavement - why do we suddenly require extra width - ludicrous.  For some reason somebody who undoubtedly doesn't live locally has made the decision.  Passers by who did stop in their cars to use the shops will not bother now - the local trade will suffer.What is planned for Churchfield Road - as far as I can tell it is going to be a right old mess up.

Amanda Hyde ● 3078d

The road is awfully narrow now.  Is the "plan" to make it one way?  Or it'll be bottlenecks all along it.

Sarah Vickers ● 3080d

I saw Cllr Dan Crawford on Chruchfield Road a couple of days ago and I asked for latest news on trees ... and he said that there will be new tress on both sides of the road paid for by both the current improvement scheme and extra ones by the ward forum.They will not be put in until the right time of the year for planting them ... but I don't know when that is.

Paul Webster ● 3080d

There are four separate teams working on Churchfield Road so it is difficult to find anyone who will take responsibility. Good luck with finding the person who ordered the trees to be cut down without bothering to check where the replacements could go. The departments covering parking, pavement renewal, licensing and regeneration don't  seem to talk to each other or apparently your MP and Councillors who have all visited the road, who have all visited the road in recent weeks. Therefore my recommendation is that you complain to the Chiefexecutive@ealing.gov.uk in the forlorn hope that he will be able to get his Officers to understand they are putting people out of business. You might mention that if he can afford to lose 20% of his income every month, he is welcome to explain to the independent traders how he manages. Dear readers, if you believe that Acton is enhanced by all the lovely shops and cafes on Churchfield Road now is the time to come and spend a little money. A cup of coffee or glass of wine. a lamb chop, a birthday card........ You can fight City Hall.

Maire Lowe ● 3080d