WEST LONDON TRANSIT SCHEME

The following has been provided by the Save Ealing's Streets campaign. Please note that the Neighbour Net group of sites has no affiliation with this organisation and is happy to publish differing views on this issue.

SAVE EALING'S STREETS

The Uxbridge to Shepherds Bush tram could force thousands of cars down YOUR street!

Did you know that there are proposals to close sections of the Uxbridge Road to make way for the tram and re-route thousands of cars and lorries though residential streets instead? If you live within several miles of the Uxbridge Road you should be deeply concerned. It is urgent that citizens of West London protest against this disastrous proposal.

27,000 cars and lorries travel along the Uxbridge Road through Ealing every day. Imagine the consequences of diverting that traffic through residential streets!

St. Leonards Road, Carlton Road, Gordon Road, Longfield Avenue, Castlebar Road, Springbridge Road, Madeley Road, The Common, The Grove, Grange Road and Mattock Lane have all been cited in official documents as possible roads though which Uxbridge Road traffic could be re-routed.

And many more streets would be affected. These roads are so narrow they couldn't possibly take this volume of traffic. There would be mayhem and gridlock. As the designated roads clog up, drivers would seek new ways through, and the impact would spill over a much wider area.

North/South journeys would also become much more difficult. Closure of parts of the Uxbridge Road would mean there would be fewer crossing points. This would make those that remain even more congested than at present.

Local residents would suffer drastically increased congestion and pollution and many car journeys around Ealing would become almost impossible.

The council says it wouldn't be this bad because the tram would reduce the amount of road traffic. But even if it fell by an optimistic 10 percent that would still mean a huge volume of traffic being forced down residential streets.

It's not just Ealing town centre that would be affected. There are also plans to close the Uxbridge Road at other points along the tram route where the road is too narrow to accommodate two extra lanes for the tram - namely in Acton, West Ealing, Hanwell and Southall.

Now that Ken Livingstone has approved the tram in principle, the detailed work is about to begin. We must act now to make clear the tram is not acceptable unless it is accompanied by solutions like tunnels or single track tramlines at the narrowest points so that thousands of cars and lorries are not diverted into residential areas.

The consultation on the tram was a sham. Transport for London says every household in the borough was sent a consultation document last year. Many people didn't get the form - and the form didn't make clear that the tram could mean the closure of the Uxbridge Road at several points.

Campaign groups and Residents Associations along the route throughout the London Borough of Ealing have formed an alliance to meet this challenge.

But to fight this we need your help. Please:

Sign our petition. Petitions can currently be signed at shops: Kim Lesley, Haven Green W5, shops in Churchfield Rd W3; Homes in: Gordon, Longfield, Carlton Rd & Gdns; Castlebar; Madeley; Arlington, The Avenue, Amherst; Mortimer, Denbigh, Grange, The Grove, Warwick. Contact Save Ealing's Streets to arrange signature.

Join a rally at the Greater London Assembly on 16th October when we present our petition to Ken Livingstone (City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA) Further details from Save Ealing's Streets.

Email or write to:
" Ken Livingstone (Mayor of London) at mayor@london.gov.uk or
Romney House, 43 Marsham St, London SW1P 3PY

" Local councillors:
o John Cudmore (Council Leader) at cudmorej@ealing.gov.uk
o Stephen Sears (Cabinet member for planning) at sears@ealing.gov.uk
o and your local councillors
Ealing Council, Town Hall, New Broadway, Ealing W5 2BY

" Stephen Pound MP (MP for Ealing North) at stevepoundmp@parliament.uk or House of Commons, London SW1

" Richard Barnes (Ealing member of the Greater London Authority) at richard.barnes@london.gov.uk or Romney House, 43 Marsham St, London SW1P 3PY

Spread the word among your neighbours. Put a poster on a window or tree.

Get involved in the campaign. Please ring us to find out about activities being planned, to offer help with leafleting, petitioning on your street etc.

Make a donation. (cheques payable to: Save Ealing's Streets Association, c/o SES Treasurer, 53 Gordon Road, London W5 2AL)

Who are Save Ealing's Streets? We are a group of Ealing residents who favour improved transport links that are harmonious with the local environs. We believe the current tram proposals could destroy many residential communities and local businesses; mainstream traffic should be kept to the Uxbridge Road. Save Ealing's Streets is also spearheading the Alliance of groups who are campaigning on this.

SAVE EALING'S STREETS

The Story So Far - Documentation on the Planned Scheme

Mayor Says Yes to West London tram scheme

"The Uxbridge Road will get trams, Chiswick will get traffic." October 2001 ChiswickW4.com