Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
‘Hounslow West is full up and residents have had enough’
70-YEAR-OLD LAUNCHES PETITION AGAINST BID TO REDEVELOP CAR PARK
A GRANDAD who was born and raised in Hounslow has pleaded with the local council to stop building new homes in a “crowded” part of town.
Bill Gallup has watched Hounslow West drastically change over the last 50 years he has lived there, but now says he has had enough.
His frustration comes as developers submitted plans to Hounslow Borough Council to remove the car park that serves the busy Hounslow West London Underground station.
Instead of space for hundreds of cars, developers want to build 348 new homes plus a new public square with a cafe, plus spaces for new shops and restaurants.
These new homes will be built five minutes away from the iconic Calvary Barracks site, which will see more than 1,500 homes built after councillors approved plans in October. Retired Mr Gallup, who worked for British Airways for 35 years, has said he has had enough.
He said: “The area is absolutely overcrowded, there’s just no room.
“There is no consideration for the residents who have lived here for years and years and who have seen a massive change in the area. Absolutely no consideration for us and I think we’ve had enough. Hounslow West is full up.”
Mr Gallup has launched an online petition to address developments at Hounslow West, which 125 people have signed at the time of going to press. He is hoping to get at least 200 signatures before speaking with councillors next month.
The 70-year-old believes if the station car park, which has around 400 spaces, is removed then more cars will park elsewhere in the town.
He said: “At any given time of day there are normally around 100 cars there. Now, these cars will have nowhere to park, so what they’ll do is park down our side roads which they are already doing now to save their money.
“The side streets are already jampacked all day long, not with people who live in this area but with people who visit. Where will the commuters go? They are going to park their cars somewhere else.”
According to the proposals, the new housing development will be car-free, but there will be some disabled car parking, short-stay parking and 650 cycle parking spaces.
There will also be a new bus stop for the 482 service in Vicarage Farm Road. This means the service will no longer make a U-turn to head west along Bath Road, and instead will turn immediately right into Bath Road.
There is also concern about the impact on local businesses if the car park is removed for good.
Mr Gallup added: “The car park is free at the weekends, and that’s when most people do their shopping. I think businesses will suffer because no one will be able to park there at the weekend.
“There’s also a market there on Saturdays and Sundays. That’s their livelihoods. I was speaking to one last week and he said it’s the only job he’s got, but the whole lot will go under these plans.”
By taking away spaces for 400 cars, Mr Gallup fears more people will try to park in the tiny car park in Cavendish Parade, which will in turn increase congestion along Bath Road. He said: “In the evenings the traffic is at a standstill. I was on a bus the other day, it took me 20 minutes to go three stops because of the traffic queuing to get into this small car park.
“Now, if the other car park goes, what’s it going to be like?
“By building on that one place at Hounslow West, it’s going to cause massive disruption.”
Mr Gallup further worries about the increase in rubbish, crime and antisocial behaviour in the area once thousands of families move in.
He said: “The area now is always filthy, rubbish dumped everywhere. People are dumping settees, fridges, anything anywhere they want, because people can’t afford to pay the council to take it away.
“All these things are building up and it’s going to get worse. It’s quite embarrassing when friends come to visit you, and they see the area that you’re living in and say ‘oh deary me, it’s terrible isn’t it?’.”
Addressing the fears, Cllr Tom Bruce, cabinet member for regeneration and development, said: “We are committed to delivering regeneration across the borough, providing quality homes for residents, unlocking new job opportunities and creating welldesigned public spaces where communities can thrive. However, we also want residents to have strong local connections and live in neighbourhoods that work for them. Our ethos is about being a listening council with residents shaping the services that affect them. I would encourage any resident with concerns to contact the council.”
Mr Gallup’s petition can be viewed at https://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgEPetitionListDisplay.aspx
There is no consideration for the residents who have lived here for years and have seen a massive change in the area. Bill Gallup