Hounslow Council Objects to Hammersmith ANPR Camera Plan

Hounslow Council has indicated it will formally object to Hammersmith and Fulham Council's proposed traffic order that would use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to restrict access to Weltje Road. The move comes amid concerns from Hounslow that traffic will be diverted onto roads within its own borough.

Concerns Over Traffic Displacement

Hammersmith and Fulham Council is exploring the possibility of implementing a trial traffic order for Weltje Road. This order would employ ANPR cameras to limit the use of the road by vehicles registered outside the borough. Hammersmith and Fulham Council states that Weltje Road is currently used by more than 2,000 vehicles daily, with approximately 90 per cent originating from outside its boundaries. The council argues this measure is necessary to improve safety for schoolchildren, walkers, and cyclists, and to reduce congestion and pollution on what should be a quiet residential street.

However, Hounslow Council has expressed significant opposition. A Hounslow Council officer, in correspondence seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, stated that the authority has already submitted an objection to a similar traffic order for Rivercourt Road. The officer confirmed that Hounslow Council will formally object if an order for Weltje Road is published. The primary concern for Hounslow is the potential for traffic to be redirected to roads such as Chiswick Lane and other routes within their borough.

Differing Perspectives on Consultation

Cllr Nicole Trehy, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel at Hammersmith and Fulham Council, stated that the trial aims to improve safety and that any lessons learned can be shared with Hounslow. She added that the technology could allow for maintaining bus access to local schools while offering residents similar benefits to those on other Chiswick streets that have previously been closed to through traffic. Hammersmith and Fulham Council also suggested the technology could offer Hounslow the opportunity to reopen Chiswick streets exclusively for their residents.

Conversely, Conservative representatives in Hammersmith and Fulham have criticised the Labour-led council for a lack of consultation with Hounslow. Cllr Stewart Waine, Shadow Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel, claimed the council had failed to update stakeholders in Hounslow as a courtesy. A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council disputed this, stating they were prioritising the safety and wellbeing of their own residents and school children over the interests of motorists from Hounslow.

Hounslow Council's objection to the Rivercourt Road order and its stated intention to object to the Weltje Road proposal highlight an ongoing disagreement between the two boroughs regarding traffic management and its cross-boundary implications.

What Happens Next

Hammersmith and Fulham Council is currently considering the traffic order for Weltje Road. If an order is formally published, Hounslow Council has confirmed it will submit a formal objection. The outcome of Hammersmith and Fulham's consideration and any subsequent objection process will determine the future of traffic restrictions on Weltje Road.