MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC TO/FROM THE CAMPUS AND HOUSING ESTATE

Posted on May 4, 2015 by saxb

11182681_442455375921489_6083371384120276776_oThe latest announcement by RuT College and its partners in the REEC scheme is that

  • all college traffic would enter from the A316 via Langhorn Drive (Harlequins entrance). The existing road barrier in Egerton Road will remain in place and all college traffic would exit the campus via Egerton Road onto the A316.
  • Motor traffic to and from the new secondary school would access the campus and leave via Egerton Road and the A316.
  • Traffic accessing Clarendon School would use Egerton Road, Heathfield North/South and Court Way.
  • The college’s “current philosophy”, as they called it, is that traffic to and from the large new housing estate would use Egerton Road, Heathfield North/South, Court Way and Whitton Road.  Heatham Alliance object very strongly to this proposal.

We have support from our ward councillors who publicly declared that this is a ‘Red Line Issue’ for them too.

The current proposal was also rejected by three-quarters of residents in a consultation survey conducted a year ago. (May 2014)

At the public meeting on 21 April 2015, RuT College Principal Robin Ghurbhurun reported that Transport for London, RuT College and their partners are conducting a feasibility study covering three options for the additional traffic from the proposed new housing estate.

These options would all take the extra residential traffic onto the A316 via Langhorn Drive.

Two options involve upgrading the junction with traffic signals, allowing vehicles to make a right-turn out of the site and travel eastbound along the A316.

The third option would not involve any change to the existing junction so no construction costs would be incurred.

The Principal again refused to budge on this issue and would not accept any of these alternative options.

We will update members on what is actually in the planning application, due to be submitted by RuT College to Richmond Council in early May 2015

 

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RWC and Road Closures

Posted on May 4, 2015 by saxb

Twickenham has been the home of rugby union for over 100 years and the eyes of the world will be on Twickenham RFU Stadium and the surrounding area in a few months’ time.

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Heatham Alliance supports a safe and really successful Rugby World Cup tournament and aims to work with the organisers, Richmond Council and the Safer Neighbourhoods policing team to minimise the impacts on the lives of people living in the area.

So far Richmond Council has not been entirely open with us about several key issues, including the real reason for closing the A316 for up to 7 or more hours on match days.

The fact is that, as well as dropping-off and picking-up passengers for the park and ride shuttle services to and from Kempton Park, they will use the A316 as a coach and bus park for around 400 vehicles.

The key concerns of the local community include extended closures of the A316, Whitton Road and its side roads on 12 match days, evening kick-offs, traffic congestion and crowds, noise, nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

I have had contacts and meetings with our Met. Police team, senior officers at Richmond Council, our local councillors, Harlequins, the RFU and representatives of England 2015 which organises the RWC2015 tournament.

Watch this space for further updates from Heatham Alliance.

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RUGBY WORLD CUP – HARLEQUINS FANZONE

Posted on May 4, 2015 by saxb

Harlequins submitted a planning application in January to hold a Fanzone at the Stoop stadium for up to 7,500 people on RWC2015 match days at Twickenham RFU Stadium.

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This would involve large numbers of fans leaving the Stoop late at night, after consuming considerable quantities of beverages, and walking down Heathfield South, Court Way and. Craneford Way en route to Twickenham Station.

How the station would cope with these numbers on top of the crowds from Twickenham RFU Stadium has not been explained.

Heatham Alliance and 25 individual members have registered official objections to the planning application.

We have heard that Transport for London lodged an objection as well and that Harlequins have scaled back their plans a little.

We have also made a formal objection to the Licensing Committee on behalf of Heatham Alliance regarding certain negative aspects of Harlequins’ premises license application.

Heatham Alliance is pursuing key concerns and will notify members about developments ahead of the Planning Committee meeting.

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