What is the Bedfont Forum?
Who's who
Where is Bedfont?
Traffic and Parking
History of Bedfont
Annual Review
Medical Matters
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Bedfont Shopper's Car-Park
The principal catalyst for the founding of Bedfont Forum was the proposal in 1996 by the Borough to sell off the shopper's car-park at the corner of the Staines Road and Bethany Waye. A petition was raised by various concerned members of the community, and presented to the Council. This was successful in keeping this useful amenity, although charging was instituted for the first time.
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Staines Road (A315) Traffic Calming
Following the over-zealous traffic calming applied to Bedfont Lane (that caused bus routes to be diverted until new vehicles were procured), the Staines Road was next in line. The scheme was planned during the last quarter of 1997, and implemented during the first quarter of 1998, to take advantage of grants from central government.
Although the scheme had originally included raised crossings and traffic "pillows", these were vetoed by the emergency services. Included in the scheme were cycle paths with various novel features, including bus stops and lighting poles in the middle of the lanes (as shown below)!
One useful part of the scheme was a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road near the Library. This is approximately midway between the "Pelican" crossings at Budgens and the Murco filling station. Although the scheme was declared completed, this was not implemented - partly due to the bus company not agreeing to the re-positioning of the stops. The Forum's Executive Committee is still pressing for this important safety measure to be built.
The main effect of the scheme seems to have been an increase in road-side parking - using the cycle lanes!
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West Bedfont Overspill Parking
During 2002, it seemed very likely that the proposed developments of a hotel (south and west of the Clockhouse Roundabout) and the "Technopark" along Bedfont Road, both with minimal car parking provision, would cause many problems from overspill parking in the adjacent roads.
The situation as at 2003 is that the "Technoparks" is very unlikely to proceed in the forseeable future. Hotel construction work has halted, leaving a large pond where excavations for the foundations were made.
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Hatton Road Traffic Calming Proposal
Cllr. Hughes has caused a speculative plan for traffic calming along Hatton Road to be drawn up, plus an accompanying petition. This is supported by Karen Pearcey, Head Teacher of Bedfont Infant and Junior Schools (which are located on Hatton Road). The scheme is of a "low-impact" type relying on road markings and signage, together with a permanent pedestrian crossing outside the school entrance to replace the existing warden-controlled crossing.
Hatton Road has had 24 "personal injury accidents" over the period from November 1999 to October 2002, which is under 3 per kilometre per year. This is far below the worst road in the Borough - High Street, Brentford - with nearly 16 per kilometre per year. The most recent fatal accident in Hatton Road was at 22:25 on Saturday 6 April 2002, and involved a young man crossing between the Duke of Wellington public house and Bedfont Football and Social Club and an eastbound car. The driver of the car has since received a custodial sentence for dangerous driving. The accident scene is 450 metres from the school.
Of greater concern for road safety is probably the parking of cars near the school that obscure visibility. The irony is that most of these vehicles are being used to take pupils to and from the school. The proposed scheme will restrict or eliminate this dangerous parking.
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Road Condition
The condition of council-maintained roads in Bedfont varies from indifferent to appalling. The A315 has a scattering of pot-holes, and some residential roads, such as Northumberland Crescent (pictured below), seem to be more hole than road.
The council tried out a quick-repair machine, but most of the patches started to fall out the next year (after a not particularly hard winter) and the holes have not been been attended to since.
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