Proposed Closure of West End of Albany Road

Consultation on pedestrian and cycle "improvements"

The council has developed proposals to upgrade cycle and pedestrian facilities on Alexandra Road and Albany Road in Brentford. The proposals centre on the closure of Albany Road to motor traffic at the junction with Alexandra Road.

In September 2015 St Paul’s Church of England Primary School is expanding to the ‘Alexandra House’ site at the western end of Albany Road.

This may significantly increase the pedestrian footfall across Albany Road as students, teachers and staff move between the new and existing school sites.

The proposal to close the road to motor traffic will improve safety for children in particular; the playground within the park can also be accessed from this area.

Alexandra Road has also been identified as an appropriate location for a cycle contra flow lane, which would permit cycling southbound and improve local connectivity for cyclists. This would also prevent the observed practice of vehicles using Alexandra Road southbound; ignoring the no entry signing.

The attached designs illustrate the proposals, which support the Council’s objectives to provide a cleaner and greener borough that encourages active, healthy communities. The proposals include the following:

1. Closure of Albany Road: A new shared use footway would be extended across the western end of Albany Road and the road would be closed at the junction with Alexandra Road. Dropped kerbs would permit access for cyclists.
2. Alexandra Road would be reduced from two lanes to one lane northbound. A new southbound contraflow cycle lane would be installed and would be protected from traffic by new traffic islands and ‘armadillo’ segregating buffers.
3. Relocation of bus stop ‘Z1’ on Alexandra Road; bus route 195 would terminate at stop ‘BP’ on Brentford High Street (in front of the County Court).
4. New ‘School Keep Clear’ markings and extended double yellow lines on Albany Road.
5. New double yellow lines on the western side of Wilkes Road, to ease vehicle movements for traffic accessing the A315.

Your comments on these proposals are welcomed, and it would be appreciated if these could be submitted by email to traffic@hounslow.gov.uk, using the subject line ‘Alexandra Road / Albany Road’. Comments should be received no later than Friday 12 June 2015.

The results of the consultation will be reported to local Councillors at the Isleworth and Brentford Area Forum on 9 July 2015, where a decision will be made regarding the future of the scheme. Area Forum meetings are open to the public, and full details and the option to “subscribe for updates” are available.

May 18, 2015