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Conservative councillors say people going for brunch are 'ruining cycle lane experiment'

“Driving through it or having brunch here is not knowing how Chiswick works, you have to know it as a resident or a worker”...

People who visit Chiswick for brunch are 'trampling' over local residents views' by using a new cycle lane, say Tory councillors. 

The row comes as the Labour-run Hounslow Council turned down a Conservative challenge to the Chiswick High Road cycle lane - built in February 2021.

The TfL-funded cycle lane is intended to promote healthy travel, increase safety and discourage car use.

The Chiswick Conservatives organised a 'call-in' on August 4, asking the council to re-think its decision to keep the cycle lane for another six-months, reports My London.

But all members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee voted to push ahead with the new lane.

> West London council votes to make temporary cycleway permanent - for next 18 months at least

Turnham Green's Tory councillor Joanna Biddolph, said: “We continually have decisions made about Chiswick that are just imposed on us by people who just do not know it.

“Driving through it or having brunch here is not knowing how Chiswick works, you have to know it as a resident or a worker.”

Chiswick Homefields councillor and Tory leader Gerald McGregor said: “This current scheme, and the new Experiment Traffic Order is hopeless.

“There is a perceived lack of fairness, Chiswick residents feel they have been trampled on. The democratic deficit is clear here.”

The new cycle lane plan was 'rubber stamped' by Hounslow’s leadership and 'uses weasel words and lacks transparency', Cllr Biddolph argued.

> Huge growth in number of people including families riding bikes on West London protected cycleway

Defending the scheme, Hanif Khan cabinet member for transport, said London Mayor’s have consistently encouraged active travel.

He added: “The council transport strategy set out to reduce the dominance of cars on the road and we see that everywhere, where possible we want to take necessary steps to provide amenities to encourage walking and cycling.

“The pandemic has further highlighted the need for the benefit of urgently providing high quality cycling infrastructure.”

Council transport officer Jefferson Nwokeoma, revealed that between February and June 2021 average weekly cycle lane users increased from 1,239 to 2,316.

Mr Nwokeoma emphasised that the council was going 'above and beyond' by engaging with the public for 21 days before starting the new temporary cycle lane.

Defending an alleged 'failure to consult' in the last seven months, Mr Nwokeoma said 8,000 letters were sent to Chiswick’s 45,000 residents, as well as stakeholder emails and 'town hall type events'. 

Speaking about the plans last month, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said: “[The] data shows the huge positive impact cycle lanes can have not only in enabling more people to cycle, but also in reducing road danger and improving air quality.

“Chiswick High Road has been transformed by the trial lane, with cycling on weekdays up by almost three quarters and bikes now making up a fifth of ‘vehicles’ using the road during the day.

“We will continue to work with Hounslow Council and boroughs across London to do all we can to ensure a greener and cleaner recovery from the pandemic.”

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51 comments

Avatar
NPlus1Bikelights | 3 years ago
2 likes

"This is a local bike lane for local people" 

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Hirsute | 3 years ago
3 likes

They do seem to be slightly bonkers there
https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/councillor-calls-woke-fr...
Oh, sorry 'one avocado short of a brunch'.

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
6 likes

hirsute wrote:

They do seem to be slightly bonkers there https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/councillor-calls-woke-fr... Oh, sorry 'one avocado short of a brunch'.

I was struck by his use of the phrase ".....that's what many people, many, many people think......"  Just like Trump used to say.

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hmas1974 | 3 years ago
6 likes

You don't understand our country ways!!!

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hutchdaddy replied to hmas1974 | 2 years ago
1 like

You don't understand our contrary ways!!!

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Hirsute | 3 years ago
2 likes

Another one on the list when visting the in laws - ride at <20mph (or is it at 24 mph?) in Richmond Park and ride along Chiswick High Road.

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wycombewheeler | 3 years ago
11 likes

People who visit Chiswick for brunch are switching mode of transport for local journeys are 'trampling' over local residents views' disproving the prejudices of petrol addicts  by using a new cycle lane, say Tory councillors. 

 

Is what I think they mean

Avatar
Captain Badger | 3 years ago
8 likes

Quote:

The new cycle lane plan ..... 'uses weasel words and lacks transparency', Cllr Biddolph argued

Oh the irony......

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HarrogateSpa replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
1 like

You mustelids should stick together.

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hawkinspeter replied to HarrogateSpa | 3 years ago
0 likes

HarrogateSpa wrote:

You mustelids should stick together.

I've never figured out how to tell apart a weasel and a stoat

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
11 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

....

I've never figured out how to tell apart a weasel and a stoat

Why, 'tis simple HP...

A weasel is weasily recognised.

A stoat, however, is stoatally different

Avatar
HarrogateSpa replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
7 likes

Apart from the joke, which is one of my favourites, it's the black tip on a stoat's tail that sets it apart from its smaller cousin the weasel.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to HarrogateSpa | 3 years ago
0 likes

Also weasels can't swim.

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Captain Badger replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
3 likes

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Also weasels can't swim.

Does that mean they're not witches?....

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
1 like

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Also weasels can't swim.

I think they can, 

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Captain Badger replied to wycombewheeler | 3 years ago
1 like

wycombewheeler wrote:

....

I think they can, 

Witches! let's burn them!

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Captain Badger replied to HarrogateSpa | 3 years ago
1 like

HarrogateSpa wrote:

You mustelids should stick together.

Should, not must[elid]

I'd say they're not my family but, in a scientific sense at least, they very much are.....

Avatar
zero_trooper | 3 years ago
7 likes

My take on the Tory councillor whinging was that the councillors who drive through Chiswick and go there for brunch i.e. the ones from Hounslow, are forcing their views on the good residents of Chiswick. (From Wikipedia: Chiswick is a district within the Borough of Hounslow)

 The two Tories quoted presumably actually live in Chiswick and are saying that they know their residents best. Which can be a reasonable argument, but in this case they aren't producing any evidence of the views of Chiswickians (?) unlike the Hounslow councillors who are at least evidencing a consultation process.

 

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hutchdaddy replied to zero_trooper | 2 years ago
0 likes

It could also be that the Tories just are desperate to have a go at a successful Labour run borough. The Tories haven't held LBof Hounslow since 1971, it's been Labour almost all the way. The exception was 2006 to 2010, when the minority Conservatives linked up with a short lived bunch of independents. It's one of the few outer London boroughs that has consistently voted for Labour. Hounslow is one of the most ethenically diverse outer London boroughs and they've served the population of the borough well, which is why they keep getting voted in. I suspect that certain sections of Chiswick society would like UDI from rough old Hounslow.

Having sucessfully run Hounslow for so long I think they've a pretty good idea of what is required for the borough as a whole and those who travel through it.
Oh yes and Chiswick has always been a very nice (fairly white) middle class sort of place, and it's the only part of the borough with a London postal district.
As for the rest of the borough well for Brentford (home of the Mighty Bees, "We're just a Bus Stop in Hounslow!!!") watch People do Nothing, for Hounslow here is my homey Chabuddy G to explain. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBTEiUgh7lI  There's also Feltham, (nothing like Chiswick), Heston (also nothing like Chiswick), Hanworth, Heston and Hatton Cross (also nothing like Chiswick) and Isleworth a bit sort of inbetween Hounslow and Chiswick, but more suburban.
I was dragged up in Haans-low, to give it it's correct pronunciation.

Avatar
Milkfloat | 3 years ago
1 like

It will be interesting to see if this goes further - the councillor in question job is to deal with a company or individual's reputational crisis when they have publicly shit themselves in the foot. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannabiddolph/?originalSubdomain=uk
 

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Hirsute replied to Milkfloat | 3 years ago
8 likes

That's an interesting metaphor.

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zero_trooper replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
1 like

Pictures please!

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Organon | 3 years ago
2 likes

What is the problem? Sales of Avocado Toast are going throught the roof in Chiswick.

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Captain Badger replied to Organon | 3 years ago
10 likes

Organon wrote:

What is the problem? Sales of Avocado Toast are going throught the roof in Chiswick.

'twill attract all kinds of undesirables

Got to crack down hard on these clowns or we'll be up to our balls in jugglers

Avatar
Jenova20 replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
3 likes

Captain Badger wrote:

Organon wrote:

What is the problem? Sales of Avocado Toast are going throught the roof in Chiswick.

'twill attract all kinds of undesirables

Got to crack down hard on these clowns or we'll be up to our balls in jugglers

Well, it's all for the greater good.

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Jenova20 | 3 years ago
2 likes

Jenova20 wrote:

...

Well, it's all for the greater good.

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IanMK | 3 years ago
4 likes

It seems these backwards thinking conservatives haven't been brought up to speed with 'Gear Change'. I presume head office will have to decide whether strenuous reeducation or a P45 is more appropriate.

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Philh68 | 3 years ago
15 likes

Aaah, conservatives. How are they supposed to argue for the removal of cycle lanes if people actually use them! It's just not fair. Don't we know that their fragile egos depend on being able to laud their superiority over others, which can't happen if it's easy for people to use non-status symbol transport to go somewhere and quelle horreur actually enjoy themselves? It's upsetting the social order, that can't possibly be allowed!

Avatar
Jenova20 replied to Philh68 | 3 years ago
4 likes
Philh68 wrote:

Aaah, conservatives. How are they supposed to argue for the removal of cycle lanes if people actually use them! It's just not fair. Don't we know that their fragile egos depend on being able to laud their superiority over others, which can't happen if it's easy for people to use non-status symbol transport to go somewhere and quelle horreur actually enjoy themselves? It's upsetting the social order, that can't possibly be allowed!

The people writing in to their MPs and complaining loudly don't appear to realise they're actually the minority.

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CygnusX1 replied to Philh68 | 3 years ago
5 likes

Not merely using them but stopping and spending money too, thus propping up local businesses. It's hard for the Tories to argue against capitalism.

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