Hounslow Council has confirmed it will formally object to Hammersmith and Fulham Council's proposed traffic order restricting access to Weltje Road, a popular cut-through between the A4 and King Street, over concerns that displaced traffic will worsen congestion on nearby roads including Chiswick Lane.
The proposed order, which Hammersmith and Fulham Council has confirmed it is considering, would use ANPR cameras to prevent drivers from other boroughs using the road on a trial basis. The scheme mirrors one already in place at Rivercourt Road, which also connects the A4 with King Street, where residents, visitors, shops, and businesses can retain access.
Hounslow's Formal Objection and Cross-Border Concerns
In correspondence seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a Hounslow Council officer told councillors and residents this week: "We have expressed our concerns not only for our Boroughs [sic] roads (mainly Chiswick Lane) but also the implications we believe for their own road network north of King Street where we expect a significant increase in traffic."
The email continued: "We have submitted an objection to the traffic order introduced for Rivercourt Road, and if one is published for Weltje Road, we will be formally objecting to this." This follows a petition by Hounslow Conservatives noting that for some drivers from areas such as Chiswick, Acton, and Ealing, Weltje Road is "their only convenient route onto the eastbound A4" at that point.
Conservative Criticism and Labour Response
Cllr Stewart Waine, Hammersmith and Fulham Conservative representative for Munster and Shadow Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel, said: "LBHF seems to have run roughshod over the wishes of the majority of residents on Weltje Road itself, while failing to consult or even update the stakeholders who would be most affected across the border in LBH [London Borough of Hounslow] as a courtesy."
Cllr Waine also claimed the Labour-led council has started "an unnecessary war" with two local Labour MPs, Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith and Chiswick) and Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton). Both MPs disputed this characterisation, with Mr Slaughter telling the LDRS his office has simply passed on concerns from residents "about how the scheme will operate and how they will judge its effectiveness".
A Hammersmith and Fulham Labour spokesperson said: "We are absolutely staggered that Hammersmith and Fulham Conservatives are putting the interests of motorists in Hounslow, whose streets are already protected from rat-running, ahead of the safety and wellbeing of residents and school children in our borough."
Safety Rationale and Smart Camera Technology
Cllr Nicole Trehy, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel, defended the trial, stating: "Twelve residential streets between Chiswick and Hammersmith Broadway were, historically, connected to the A4. Over the years, all have been closed off to make the streets quieter, safer and less polluted – apart from Rivercourt Road and Weltje Road. They had to remain open to allow buses to transport children to and from local schools."
She added: "This, unfortunately, created heavy traffic, congestion and pollution, which has been exacerbated by sat nav guidance systems, on what should be quiet residential streets. Over 2,000 vehicles – more than 90 per cent of which are from outside the borough – now use Weltje as a cut-through every day."
Cllr Trehy said smart camera technology means "we have solutions", allowing buses to maintain access to local schools while offering residents the same benefits as neighbouring Chiswick streets. She noted that a successful trial in Rivercourt was made permanent earlier this year, and the council is now considering a similar trial in Weltje. She also offered to share learnings with Hounslow Council, which was approached for comment.
