Residents of West Drayton are being encouraged to voice their opinions on a traffic calming initiative implemented by Hillingdon Council, responding to persistent safety concerns raised by locals.
Installed as part of an experimental scheme along Tavistock Road, removable planters have been strategically positioned to create chicanes, aimed at slowing down heavy lorries and trucks notorious for reckless driving behaviour. Alongside these measures, new air quality monitors have been deployed to monitor emissions levels, reflecting the council’s commitment to both safety and environmental health.
The measures have been introduced after residents had raised concerns about the driving from some of the commercial vehicles coming from businesses based in the industrial units on Trout Road.
Implemented in March, these measures will remain in place for a year. The council has written to affected residents to seek their views on the scheme and will be inviting comments during the first six months of its installation, before being invited to give their final feedback at the end of the 12 months.
Motorists are being urged to drive with care and consideration and to respect the new calming scheme. This comes following a recent incident when a truck driver damaged one of the planters. The police are currently investigating the incident.
Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport said: “We’re committed to creating safe and strong communities and being a green and sustainable borough.
“These measures seek to allay long-term concerns from residents about a minority of motorists using a residential urban road in an irresponsible manner. We’ve chosen measures that will slow traffic without the increased noise associated with speed humps.
“While we’re sympathetic to commercial drivers and appreciate they’re from local businesses, residents’ welfare and safety is our priority, so we’ve taken the appropriate action and will review it accordingly in due course. Meanwhile, we urge motorists to consider the safety of residents and respect this experimental scheme.”
