Forum Topic

response from Ealing Council re Churchfield Road

First of two responses.Dear Apologise for the delay in responding. AS for Churchfield Road, while there is a net loss of three bays, the existing combined permit parking/pay and display bays are being replaced with exclusive pay and display bays.  This should free up parking previously used by permit holders for patrons of the adjacent shops.  This was in response to feedback from business owners who wanted the parking to be short stay only, as vehicles with permits, including large vans, are frequently left in these spaces for extended periods of time, preventing customers from parking there. This has been discussed in meetings and generally agreed that this change would help to support local businesses, one of the main objectives of the high street improvement scheme. The public consultation was carried out early this year. The majority of the public were in the favour of the scheme to improve the public realm (91% in favour) and in particular the parking changes (81% were in favour.) with 75% in favour of having the parking bays flush with the footway The changes to the adjacent CPZ are not part of this scheme but were undertaken as a separate review.  This review will result in the K2 CPZ zone being amalgamated with K zone, effectively increasing the enforceable hours from one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening to all day.  This was supported by the majority of the respondents in the K2 area. No pay and display or stop and shop bays are being changed as a result of this scheme. There have been a few on-site issues relating to the placement of the new street trees due to the underground services.  These sorts of issues are not uncommon on highway schemes as sometimes the location of underground services deviate from plans provided by the statutory authority.  We are working with the architect who designed the scheme to properly site the trees. Please note that we will be enhancing the area with additional trees. The scheme is mainly funded by Government Office for London grant and the grant is only available this financial year thus the reason to complete by March. We appreciate that works can be disruptive and apologise for any inconvenience cause while they are on-going.  We are confident however that the short term disruption will be far outweighed by the long-term benefits of the scheme that should make the area an even more inviting place to shop. Regards

Maire Lowe ● 3072d5 Comments

It states that the money has to spent this financial year in the letter, hence completed by March - spend it or lose it. I'd rather they'd spend it then lose it.

Nathan Macrides ● 3071d

I agree with Sara.1. The works on Churchfield Road are taking far too long, causing unnecessary obstacles between the general public and local shops and making it difficult for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists.2. Ealing Council appear to have no understanding about the environment needed to help local businesses. They appear to have reduced parking spaces (The replies regarding this are not reassuring - they seem to me to be fudging the issue) which are crucial for encouraging people to use their local businesses.3. I haven't got my head around the changes to K and K1. Can someone who has taken the trouble to read and digest the new rules tell me: are those of us in K1 not allowed, now, to park in K? This will make it ever more difficult to use local shops.

Clare Gittins ● 3071d

CANF would be happy to co ordinate responses to these statements from Officers. You can let us know what you think via this forum, or through Facebook pages, Next door, the CCA pages or CANForum website. www.canforum.org.

Maire Lowe ● 3071d

None of these responses mention any provision of disabled parking spaces. I don't think there are ANY in central Acton, certainly none in or near Churchfield Road.I don't understand why this acceptable.Nor for the matter why it is acceptable for these works to go on for so long and with so much disruption at the same time as the disruption caused by the Oaks.It's almost as if the council can see a flourishing street in Acton and has stepped in to ensure that it declines by imposing six months at least of confusion, dirt and delay and vastly decreasing the ability of businesses to trade or traffic to either pass or park.

Sara Nathan ● 3072d

2nd of two responses.hank you for response to the e-mail sent to Councillors. I would like to clarify that the e-mail refers to the Churchfield Road paving and environmental scheme. Three bays in Churchfield Road  between Burlington Gardens and Alfred Road are being removed and the remainder made pay and display only. The Churchfield Road scheme does not provide any stop and shop bays. The scheme is expected to be fully complete by the end of March, however some parking is already available in the completed sections. The scheme scheduled to come into force on Monday is the CPZ K1 to K transfer of streets. This is too far advanced to postpone its implementation but as stated before all pay and display and stop and shop bays in the revised zone are unchanged. You may make the letter public providing that any commentary makes it clear that it is the paving and environmental scheme. Regards,

Maire Lowe ● 3072d