The end of the road for opposition to Grove Park LTN?

Image above: Hounslow House

Grove Park traffic scheme ‘call-in’ request denied

The Chair of Hounslow’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Sayyar Raza, has blocked a review of the decision-making process behind several Grove Park traffic schemes in Chiswick.

Opposition councillors had requested a ‘call-in’, ie. a stop on proceedings pending further discussion, claiming that the decision was flawed due to inadequate consultation and evidence, and ‘a lack of proportionality to the desired outcome’.

Following a meeting with the Council’s legal team, Cllr Raza confirmed that he would not allow the call-in request to proceed, saying there was insufficient evidence that the decision process had been flawed.

This means the Cabinet’s recnt decision, based on the earlier consideration of the cross-party Overview and Scrutiny Committee, will go ahead and the traffic restrictions affecting access to Staveley Rd and Burlington Lane from the A316 will stay as they are and become permanent.

Hounslow Council’s lead traffic officer Jefferson Nwokeoma set out the evidence the Council has gleaned regarding traffic volumes and air pollution in Grove Park since the Lower Traffic Neighbourhood scheme was introduced, at a meeting with Chiswick councillors and residents

READ ALSO: Traffic officer Jefferson Nwokeoma briefs residents

‘Hundreds of emails’

Cllr Raza is currently under scrutiny himself, following the statement he made to an official meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that he had received “hundreds of emails” in support of the council’s traffic measures in Grove Park.

Chiswick’s Conservative councillors have questioned whether he had in fact received such a large volume of supportive emails. Several Freedom of Information requests have been made by Chiswick residents regarding the matter, which are still pending.

Decision “disappointing” say Conservatives

“It is disappointing that Cllr Raza has decided to block this request for a call-in, which we believe has solid grounds due to the inadequate consultation, poor data and lack of proportionality of the Grove Park schemes,” said Peter Thompson, Councillor for Chiswick Riverside and leader of the Conservative Group on Hounslow Council.

“The Council seems to be arguing that the call-in cannot go ahead as there is no evidence of the absence of proper consultation and data, which is totally paradoxical. We want the Hounslow Labour group to put aside constitutional tricks and have an open discussion with Chiswick residents and councillors about the future of traffic schemes in Grove Park.”

Cllr Katherine Dunne, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Transport, told The Chiswick Calendar:

“The decision to keep traffic schemes in place on Staveley Road and Burlington Lane was made in line with recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), which has representation from both Labour and Conservative councillors.

“Despite this, the Tories decided to call in the decision, asking for it to be looked at again by a sub-group of the OSC. The call-in request was signed by eight Conservative councillors including group leader Cllr Peter Thompson. Cllr Thompson attended the Cabinet meeting at which the decision was made where he used his speaking rights to say it ‘makes perfect sense’ to ‘keep things as they are’. ”

Cllr Dunne went on:

“I’m glad the decision by the OSC Chair means the Cabinet decision can go ahead. The council carried out extensive consultation on the two schemes but I wanted to be sure before making a recommendation to Cabinet.

“That’s why I referred the report to OSC and asked Cabinet to accept the committee’s recommendations to keep the schemes in place. Cllr Thompson said this made perfect sense so I’m disappointed his group initiated a call in for purely political reasons.

“As well as making the two schemes permanent, Cabinet agreed my additional recommendations reflecting community feedback on carers, speed, signage and communications. I would value input from residents and ward councillors on these so urge opposition members to drop their confrontational attitude and work together to make them a success.”