Excellent response from Hounslow Highways

Yesterday, I reported a massive carriageway defect on Faggs Road (reference 1259974).  I was pleasantly surprised to see this morning that there had been very prompt action and also received the following email:

“Thank you for reporting the defect on Faggs Road, located near the junction of Steam Farm Lane. An inspection of the location was carried out on the 11/02/2013 and two defects were identified which met our intervention levels. Because of the severity and the location of these potholes, a 1 hour callout to make safe was made to our maintenance team. The permanent repairs will hopefully be carried out within 28 days, this may be longer though because Thames Water have temporary traffic signals set up in the area and we cannot set up our traffic management in the same vicinity.”

However, I have reported two more this morning, near Super Singhs Pizza and opposite the Green Man pub (reference 1260217).  I hope that the response is as efficient.

Latest on works at Faggs Road

I received the following on 31 January:

“We are about to grant 3 weeks extension to the contractor to complete the works by Friday 22nd February 2013, subject to 7 days working.

We do not expect the work to continue beyond the 22nd Feb.”

67 Hounslow Road, Feltham

Until recently, there was an attractive bungalow/cottage at the above location.  Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.

I received the following today:

“LONDON BUILDING ACTS (AMENDMENT) ACT 1939-PART II STREET NAMING
SUBJECT: Naming New Development, 67 Hounslow Road, Feltham

This department is carrying out consultation with the public, emergency services and Royal Mail on the naming of the above development and in accordance with council policy, the Council’s library service have been consulted for suitable names.  The suggestions received are: –

Suggestions: Hedges Close/Place; Firs Lodge Close/Place; Seedman(s) Close/Place; Shepherd’s Close/Place; Watkins Close/Place

Accordingly I should be obliged if you would assess the names put forward and inform me of any objections you may have.  Also, if you should have any suggestions of your own please feel free to include these in your reply.  I would be grateful if you could confirm your views within 2 weeks.”

If you have any suggestions (ideally with an explanation or background) or opinions on what has been suggested thus far, please let me know.

Latest on Feltham Ex Serviceman’s Club site

I received the following last week:

“The current proposal for the short term of this site, is to grant a local Football Club an 18 – 24 month lease of the entire property, which they can then operate from, whilst the long term lease and building works of their new club facilities at another site take place.”

Feltham Arena Carpark

On 7 January, I wrote to enquire as to when the Feltham Arena car park would be cleared as it had previously been indicated that this would happen.  I received the following last week:

“With reference to Feltham Arena name Shakespeare Avenue car park you are quite right in saying that we are in the process of acquiring fixed price quotation for these works.

The Christmas break has delayed the return of these but I anticipate they will be with me by the end of the month. An anticipated start for the works to be during the 2nd week of February.

I will confirm a start date when I have it.”

If I am not aware of this being done by 16 February, I will chase the matter again.

Return of works at Faggs Road

I have received the following today:

“The sewer repairs works will commence tomorrow and will continue for a period of 6 weeks. We have asked the contractor to work seven days a week to get the work done sooner.

Our Area Highways Inspector will monitor progress.”

Faggs Road roadworks update

The works are clearly taking longer than originally advised.  I have made enquiries and received the following today:

“The sewer repair works have stopped temporary due to engineering difficulty with ground water ingress.

As a result, a site meeting has been arranged for Friday 21 December 2012 at 10am to agree alternative solution.

I shall provide you with an update after the meeting on Friday.”

Investigatory works at Feltham Arena

I received the following yesterday:

“We are writing to let you know about investigatory works planned for the Feltham Arenas site in Feltham North ward.

We have engaged the firm Waterman to assess the physical stability of slopes on the site, to test the upper soils chemically, and to give an external expert opinion on the site’s safety, with regard to slope stability and the chemical quality of the soil. This is being done in order to ensure that future works on the site can be designed to leave it in an appropriate condition. Waterman will be on the arena site for three days- the 17th through 19th December. They will employ a cable percussion rig to undertake testing of ground conditions at depth and a JCB style digger to construct trial pits for chemical testing.

We are informing you of these works so that you are aware of what is happening if asked by residents. If there is interest from residents we would encourage them not to approach the works onsite for safety reasons and because they are contractors fulfilling their brief who will not be in a position to field questions. If residents have further questions please ask them to contact either leisure services or land quality on leisure@hounslow.gov.uk, landquality@hounslow.gov.uk or through the call centre on 0208 583 5000.

The latest official word on the wider progress on the site is the following statement by Cllr Ajmer Grewal, cabinet member for leisure, sent to us from our press officer “We have worked to secure the site, and are clearing up the car park area to improve its appearance. We are also looking at a range of exciting alternatives to bring the site back into active use.” Other works will be taking place in spring to improve the playing surface, and we remain in contact with the football club about their involvement with the site.””

I sent the following query:

“Thank you for letting me know about this.  Whilst I have no problem with this at all, I am concerned that the following has not already happened:

“to assess the physical stability of slopes on the site, to test the upper soils chemically, and to give an external expert opinion on the site’s safety, with regard to slope stability and the chemical quality of the soil.”

Or are you stating that the above has been done internally but now external opinion is being sought?”

And I received the following response today:

“Some chemical testing has been done on the site in the past. These are additional works by a third party consultancy following re-working of the site over the summer.”

6 December Planning Enforcement Agenda

In ten and half years of being a Councillor, I have never seen so many Feltham North properties on a single Planning Enforcement agenda.  I am aware of all the cases but this is an agenda worth sharing.

Road works in Faggs Road

This morning I made the following enquiry:

“There are works in Faggs Road at the moment (not far from the Green Man public house). The traffic was backed up beyond Tesco this morning. Please let me know the following:

1. The reasons for these works?
2. There were works in the same place within the past 3 years. Why the need for this outage again?
3. By when the works will be complete?”

I received the following explanation this afternoon:

“Thames water is undertaking the works to reinstate a collapsed sewer.

The sewer is about 6 metre deep and it will take 2 days to excavate down to the pipe. The repairs and the carriageway reinstatement will take approximately two weeks to complete.

We have asked the contractor to sign the works properly and place warning signs at strategic locations to warn road users of delays to traffic flows. Works will take place 7 days a week and the lights will be manned during peak hours.”