Forum Topic

New, unnecessary Uxbridge Road pinch point

At a time Ealing Council is desperately short of money, it has seen fit to waste several thousand pounds on narrowing the Uxbridge Road at the junction with Grove Road and Salisbury Street in Acton by expanding the pavement on the south side of the road, and inserting a chicane that also filters traffic to left and right. This chicane will surely act as a wholly unnecessary bottleneck that may badly impact upon the ability of vehicles to turn west onto the Uxbridge Road from Alfred Road by creating a long tailback at peak hours. Perhaps you see things differently. If so, I would welcome your views in the discussion forum. If you think the idea is a bad one, would you lend your support to getting the bottleneck removed?

Eric Shanes ● 5255d20 Comments

Are you sure it's Ealing Council. I think the Mayor of London is responsible for 'A' roads like Uxbridge Road?

Guy Fiegehen ● 5255d

I think its the 'Acton centre improvements' funded by the GLA but implemented by LBE. There was a link to the proposals here a while ago, including a no left turn from Gunnersbury lane into Uxbridge Rd..... There will be a rationale for the pinch points, possibly more parking for local shops?

Iain Muir ● 5255d

How does one find out who was responsible?

Eric Shanes ● 5254d

A Council Officer, Tom Webster, was involved in the consultation, you could try finding him via the Town Hall Switchboard.The proposals were discussed at the Acton Central Ward Forum in Oct 11, you can view the notes at http://www.ealing.gov.uk/downloads/download/990/acton_central_ward_forum_5_october_2011The issue was much discussed on this site, see  http://www.actonw3.com/default.asp?section=community&link=http://appasp.ActonW3.com/server/app/forum/default.asp?site=4I cannot find the consultation plans on the LBE site. If you cannot trace Tom Webster try emailing mywardmatters@ealing.gov.uk for assistance......

Iain Muir ● 5254d

Have bumped the long discussion thread for you.the officer in charge is Nick O'Donnell at Ealing Council.

Sara Nathan ● 5254d

The E3 I was in today had problems turning at the island and so we ramped over it.  I imagine it'll need to be repaired in a few weeks.  Very silly.

Rupert Picken ● 5253d

Yes I found it awkward turning into Grove Road last night due to the island.

Jen Morty ● 5253d

Hubby commented how there could be many a tyre puncture to be had here if not careful......

Ellie Rose ● 5253d

The idea no doubt is to stop large lorries coming along the Uxbridge Road using it as a short cut from Shepherds Bush through to the Chiswick roundabout, and smaller vehicles speeding late at night.

Dee Cook ● 5251d

I assumed they were doing more pointless work trying to spend end of financial year budgets as they usually do around this time of year.It wouldn't stop large lorries but I agree it does tend to slow you down so maybe it's to help the buses do that right turn.  Also, it stops people undertaking stationery traffic to go left at the swimming pool, again helping the buses.So, I think it's to help the buses although in the usual Ealing "calamity" Council fashion, they forgot to keave enough room for the buses ... d'oh!

Sarah Harris ● 5251d

It is a bloody nightmare and will cause endless problems, some one didn't think this through properly. Just standing looking at it you can tell there is no way 2 cars coming from either direction can both fit at the same time trying to access either juntion. If a car doesnt fit in between the bollards and it's "arse" sticks out into the main flow of trafic no other cars will be able to pass thus creating traffic woes rather than helping in any constructive way.Should have left well alone, I did object to these proposals when they came around but as in most cases they went ahead anyway.I wouldn't have minded knowing the numbers for and against these "improvements" after they asked for our opinions. Were they published anywhere?

Chris Johnson ● 5251d

yes we must all bow at the altar of cars passing uninterrupted through our town centres whilst pedestrians get funnelled through small gaps with 30 seconds to cross the road. Its about time cars were treated for what they are, noisy pests, not visiting gentry. Im a car owner btw- huge car enthusiast, loved cars all my life. Im not anti car, they're just anti social in urban environemnts,they need to be slowed down and preferably deterred.

Antony Obrien ● 5249d

these 'islands' are dangerous:  I drive or cycle on the Uxbridge Road daily, and have found it difficult to take a safe 'commanding' position when turning North in to Grove Road on either two wheels or four.  You do not have clear views West if there is another vehicle in the pinch point, and today I saw a motorcyclist far too close to being clipped by a vehicle (unsighted) turning across the traffic cflow on Uxbridge Road. 'only a matter of time...'

Robin Holloway ● 5249d

Well it was bound to happen, walked past the islands today and someone had smashed the corner stone out (a bus I guess).  Islands now have signs and traffic cones.Fixed a couple of hours later though.  I imagine this will be a regular and unecessary cost for Ealing taxpayers.

Rupert Picken ● 5248d

These changes have taken place on Acton High Street on the corner with Acton Lane, not on Uxbridge Road. I am sure it is true to say that this road is the responsibility of the mayor or the Highways Dept, not the council.The changes have not created a pinchpoint for traffic which is flowing much faster as a traffic island has been removed from outside the bingo hall. They have created a new hazard for pedestrians. It has always been difficult to turn right out of Alfred Road.

Amanda Norrie ● 5242d

Hi, I spoke with Tom Webster on several occasions during the consultation raising many of the issues that are now coming to light, and also that the proposal would increase congestion. He said it was because TFL asked for it, so it seems that TFL get a bigger vote than residents (buses rarely wait long at that junction anyway). The most congestion at the junction previously was traveling westbound and I can't see how this proposal will improve that as there was already a filter right meaning that traffic wasn't blocked anyway by people turning right. In addition the junction at Alfred Road which is dangerous and causes more congestion by people pulling out to try and turn right, never mind the risk to cyclists that you can't see because of the wall obscuring the view, has been ignored ...

Charlie Hickman ● 5242d

Turn Alfred Road into a one way going from the High Street - so you cannot turn into the High Street.  Dangerous junction therefore eradicated.Are you doing a short cut from Horn Lane perhaps - up Grafton Road, down Goldsmith Avenue and then Alfred Road - to cut off the corner by Morrisons?

Dee Cook ● 5241d

This is a truly silly suggestion, for it would mean that the only route into the Uxbridge Road for residents from central Acton -- I live in Cumberland Road, for instance -- would either be by way of Horn Lane, or by way of the road that runs down the east side of Acton Park.

Eric Shanes ● 5234d

"To confirm the situation at the junction of Acton Lane, Grove Road and the High Street is temporary, when the surfacing works are done to put in the raised table the junction will be marked as a roundabout. There will also be a raised table at Alfred Road / Melville Villas Road to assist pedestrians."

Pete Grist ● 5227d

Whilst waiting for a bus outside the Town Hall I had plenty of time to observe these bollards.Well, they work, they slow the speeding traffic down, as well as cyclists, who by the time they reach the railway bridge are all travelling at 30 mph (usually in packs)! We need this slowing down traffic management scheme to stay.  If traffic wishes to reach Shepherds Bush fast then they should be travelling along the dual carriageway due north.

Dee Cook ● 5227d