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Ealing Council Leader Jason Stacey has issued a rallying call to residents to tell Transport for London (TfL) just how chaotic and unwanted its latest tram plans are.

The call to action comes after TfL issued new details revealing the misery the tram could bring through its construction compounds, electricity sub-stations and traffic diversions.

Despite the potential impact, fewer than 1,500 properties along the route have been given until February 19 - less than three weeks - to comment on these proposals.

TfL’s plans could lead to roads in and around Southall Broadway becoming gridlocked rat runs, because right hand turns from Uxbridge Road into South Road and right hand turns into Lady Margaret Road would be banned.

They also include turning narrow, twisting one-way roads in and out of Hanwell – Boston Road and Lower Boston Road – into a two-way route which could be difficult for motorists to travel safely along.

Public green spaces in Acton including Twyford Crescent Gardens could be ruined if they are turned into construction compounds for trucks, diggers, and building materials and equipment.

Councillor Stacey said: “We have a great chance to once again remind TfL how half-baked and ridiculous these plans are. TfL clearly does not want to listen to the results of its own recent survey, which showed people along the route don’t want a tram and think it’s a complete waste of public money.

He continued:  "Let’s make sure we get our message over loud and clear that we are just not interested in having our borough ripped up for a scheme which could grind traffic in West London to a halt. Ealing Council is opposed to the tram and will be making it clear exactly what we think about these latest crazy ideas from TfL. I urge residents to contact TfL and tell them in no uncertain terms exactly what they think about all this.”

TfL has launched a consultation on these proposals to what it believes are ‘affected households’. However, response forms have only been sent to 1,500 addresses along the route from Uxbridge to Shepherd’s Bush.

The other details in the consultation are:

• a new link between Greenford Road and Windmill Lane at the Iron Bridge junction, Southall

• electricity substations at:

  • Ealing Broadway cinema car park, Uxbridge Road

  • land owned by London Underground behind Ealing Common Station, Uxbridge Road

  • land owned by builders merchants Jewsons, Uxbridge Road, Acton

  • land owned by Ealing Council in Leeland Terrace, West Ealing

  • land behind shops in Uxbridge Road, Southall

• construction compounds at:

  • land owned by London Underground north of Acton Sports Ground, with vehicles accessing the site using Park Way

  • land owned by TfL in Old Oak Road, East Acton

  • land owned by Ealing Council, in Longfield Avenue, Ealing Broadway

  • part of Southall Park, alongside Green Drive

  • land owned by London Wasps Rugby Club, in Twyford Avenue, Acton.

Anyone wishing to give their views to TfL should do so in the following ways:

Write to: West London Tram, Transport for London, 19th Floor, Portland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5RS

Email: westlondontram@tfl.gov.uk

Call: 0870 850 0643

You can access a petition to Tony Blair on the Tram issue by clicking here

February 4, 2007