Moving Forward - Transport Strategy

We are preparing to update the borough’s Transport Strategy which was last published in 2019. The borough and how we live has changed substantially since then with more varied travel patterns in a post-pandemic world, a cost of living crisis and the declaration of a climate emergency. The context in which the Council is operating is different and, in many ways, more challenging. In recognition of this, we would like to ensure the transport strategy is reflective of the borough needs and consider the future of travel in Hounslow.

Over the last five years we have delivered improvements borough wide, highlights include:

Responding to a changing borough

• Delivered over £5m of infrastructure improvements, prioritising people friendly streets with the installation of 29 new pedestrian crossings alongside new dropped kerbs and footway re-surfacing.
• Working toward Vision Zero addressing road safety concerns by introducing 20mph restrictions to 90% of borough roads.
• Delivered car park improvement programme, including car park renewals and contactless payments in car parks.
• Adopted our Parking strategy, improving and enhancing the technology and signage within and on the approaches to Council-owned car parks and reviewing how Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) are identified and prioritised.

Responding to the climate emergency

• Delivery of key sections of our Priority Cycle Network including Cycleway 40 and continual delivery of Cycleway 9 in partnership with TfL.
• Introduced 37 school streets, making it safer for young people to walk, cycle, scoot and wheel to and from school.
• Installed over 400 electric vehicle charge points with a commitment to deliver more as part of our Electric Vehicle Charge Point Strategy.
• Planted over 200 street trees contributing towards cleaner, green streets.
• Adopted our Kerbside strategy focusing on re-imagining our streets, providing more space for walking, wheeling and cycling at our Kerbside.

Enabling local communities

• Created a Community Led Scheme programme, delivering over £1m of improvements from requests received by local communities.
• Delivered 3 new cycle training hubs providing free cycle training for over 1,500 adults and over 2,000 children through Bikeability at schools. This includes all-ability cycle training at Inwood Park enabling everyone to try cycling.
• Helped deliver step-free access at Syon Lane and Isleworth railway stations with further funding confirmed to investigate access improvements at Kew Bridge and Gunnersbury Stations alongside Hounslow West Tube Station.
• Delivered new bus priority measures, helping to reduce bus journey times and improve reliability.
• Pioneered new engagement methods through our co-design activities at schools in the borough.

Photograph of recently delivered Feltham Railway Path

What you have already told us:

We are not starting this update to the transport strategy afresh. You have already told us some of your priorities moving forward:

• Feedback form our Equality Diversity and Integration consultation on creating a Fairer, More Equal Borough found priorities include better access to transport and improved transport and parking facilities as there are difficulties for people with disabilities to access public transport.
• The 2024 Resident Surveyfound that:
  • Community safety is a priority council wide which includes improving safety whilst travelling around the borough.
  • Concerns about road and pavement conditions, potholes and road closures.
  • Around three quarters of residents support the implementation of schemes to reduce traffic on side streets.
  • Barriers to walking and wheeling include, quality of surfacing, resting places, obstructions, inclines and wayfinding.
• In our recent survey for our parking and kerbside strategy consultation almost half of respondents (49 per cent) said they were worried about the impact of poor air quality on their health, compared to 28 per cent who disagreed.
• The same survey also found that 72 per cent of respondents believed the kerbside should be a space for everyone, not just motorists and nearly half (42 per cent) said they wanted to see the ‘greening’ of the kerbside with more trees planted.

Moving Forward

Whether you live, work, visit, or study in Hounslow, we would like to hear about your priorities going forward and what could be better.

How to get involved:

• Undertake our survey below - 5 Minutes
• Drop a pin on our map below where you'd like to see improvements - 5 Minutes
• Share with family, friends and colleagues
• Attend a drop-in event or online session (details in the side bar to the right) . We'll be at all Area Forums through September where you can talk to a member of the team.

This is an initial consultation to understand your priorities going forward, we will use all feedback received to inform the development of the draft Transport Strategy which will be consulted on later in 2024.

Upcoming events

Monday 2^nd September

• Bedfont and Feltham Area Forum, Bedfont Lane Community Centre TW14 9NB. 18:30 onwards

Tuesday 10^th September

• Brentford and Syon Area Forum, Musical Museum, TW8 0DU 18:30 onwards
• Drop in Session at Chiswick Library, W4 2AB. 15:00 – 17:15

Thursday 12^th September

• Heston and Cranford Community Forum, Cranford Community College, TW5 9PD 18:30 onwards

Monday 16^th September

• Hanworth Area Forum, Venue tbc. 18:30 onwards

Wednesday 18^th September

• Central Hounslow Area Forum, Holy Trinity Church, TW3 1HG 18:30 onwards

Thursday 19^th September

• Drop-in session at Hanworth Library, TW13 5EG. 16:00-19:00

Tuesday 24^th September

• Chiswick Area Forum, Chiswick Town Hall, W4 4JN 18:30 onwards

Thursday 26^th September

• Hounslow South, Isleworth, Osterley and Spring Grove Area Forum, West Thames College, TW7 4HS. 18:30 onwards

Paper copies of all consultations and surveys are available. To request one, please email consult@hounslow.gov.uk or call 020 8583 2000.