West London Tram a step closer

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Save Ealing Streets to meet in Acton

Protesting this weekend to publicise planned High Street Closure

Save Ealings Streets are asking residents to join them in Acton this Saturday 17th January at 2.15pm to publicise the proposed closure of Acton High Street to make way for the tram.

They will be handing out leaflets outside Safeways and the SES tram will be there too.

If you want to join them they are asking you to meet them at the pedestrianised area in front of Safeways (not the car park side).

A wide range of alternatives to road closure was discussed in the local consultation groups over the summer, ranging from single track tram lines to property demolition to routing the tram away from the Uxbridge Road at the pinch points. The revised proposals are those that TfL think are the most feasible.

In Acton it not been possible to avoid road closures. Acton High Street will be closed in both directions between Steyne Rd and Market Place. At this state it is not clear where traffic is to be rerouted, but possibilities cited are that eastbound traffic would travel up Steyne Road and then either up to Horn Lane and onto A40, or back to Uxbridge Road via Market Place with westbound to be routed via Crown Lane.

There is better news in Shepherds Bush where it is no longer planned to close the Uxbridge Road near the bridge by Shepherd's Bush station which would have diverted traffic down Lime Grove. However, there are currently no details of how traffic would be routed around Shepherd's Bush.

TfL estimates the tram system will carry 50 million passengers a year, bring significant environmental benefits, encourage regeneration in the area and provide Londoners with better access to jobs. It is anticipated the scheme will be completed by 2011.

January 16, 2004