HOUNSLOW TOWN CENTRE VISIONS

Commonplace Consultation summary

February 2021 Introduction

Why are these projects happening? What did we ask you? We want our town centres to evolve, thrive and innovate in We asked residents to share their knowledge and ideas. order to meet current and future challenges, but we must strive This included identifying and mapping the key threats and for more. A modern town centre can play its part in mitigating opportunities for each town centre, and what a vision for climate change, economic inequality and even social injustice. their long-term future might be. All the while, we must never lose sight of existing town centre communities and adapting to welcoming new ones. We want When did we ask for comments? to support grassroot community projects and strong public- 3rd September - 8th November 2020 private partnerships, attracting investment and funding. What is in this document? We believe our town centres can offer an excellent range of A Commonplace map and survey was used to collect goods and services for visitors, a thriving trading environment comments. This document provides a summary of the for businesses and provide a good quality of life for their comments and ideas collected. Some questions were residents. We want a sustainable mix of uses, a well-connected multiple-choice whilst others prompted a descriptive transport network and an environment which promotes written response. These have all been read, recorded and biodiversity and healthy living. summarised.

Why are we creating these vision documents? How many people responded? By creating these documents, we can build a plan, based on 177 all the stakeholders’ ambitions, and support the right kinds of 102 developments in the town centres. The visions will also ensure 167 that we are better placed to attract investment and funding to 1435 make the plans happen. What happens next? The visions will be for Hounslow, Feltham, Brentford and We have been using your comments to develop a vision for Chiswick town centres. each town centre. We would now like your views on these emerging ideas. A survey will go live on Citizenspace and we are running public workshops for each town centre to discuss these ideas. The Vision documents will be published later in the Spring after feedback has been taken into account on the emerging ideas. Hounslow town centre Hounslow Mapped responses

177 Total comments Hounslow How do you feel about the town centre?

Most popular responses... Least popular responses...

Dirty / unkempt Difficult to navigate 75% 6%

Run down Well connected 67% 6%

Comments by topic

Feels unsafe Not cycle friendly 60% 5% Hounslow Describe the ideal future town centre

example quotes... Better shops... “It needs better shops. Places like nandos 46% feel disjointed from the main town”

Improved quality of “I avoid the town centre because everytime i go there I feel public realm... miserable... The streets are dirty, particularly around the bus garage end. Some of the shops are unsightly and 40% give a bad impression. There are far too many phone unlocking stalls/shops which makes the area seem so cheap. I think business should have a responsibility to make their shop look attractive and to keep it tidy and not spread out into the streets. Maybe some flower beds or something to brighten up the area...’

It should be safer... “The streets around the town centre should be safe and welcoming. Visitors and residents should be able to enjoy both 34% the town centre and the parks/open spaces with ease.”

Leisure / culture 32% Greenery 16% Transport 24% Restaurants and bars 15% Quality of buildings 21% Homes 7% The town should have better... Sense of community 16% Everything! 5% Hounslow How could we make it better?

Most popular responses... Least popular responses...

More greenery / planting Less housing 45% 1%

More places to eat / socialise Cycle hire 41% 1%

Stronger positive identity More branded shops 36% 1% Hounslow Other comments

example quotes... Comments related to a desire for better shops... “High street should be like Richmond or Chiswick - diverse cool 35% shops, cafes and restaurants with hygienic environments” “More dining experiences, more classy street cafes, a vibrant Christmas market like the ones in Greenwich (not selling hoardes of second hand clothes on a trestle table)”

Comments related to safety... “People shouting at night, parking area in the triangle used at night where people gather for various illicit activities and no one bothers. The whole place is abandoned and you can do 30% whatever you want.”

Comments related to “Living in the area it’s impossible to park near your house at movement and travel... weekends because there is not enough parking. Residents pay for 28% permits which cannot be used.”

Quality of public realm 32% Overcrowding / flats16% Sense of community 24% Greenery 15% Leisure / culture 21% Restaurants and bars 7% Comments related to... Quality of buildings 16% Employment 5% Hounslow Example comments

“Don’t spoil the high street with more housing and flats”

“Clean streets, create an inviting place you would actually want to visit for good shops and restaurants. More places like Vegology and Thakers, the two best things about Hounslow. The high street is scruffy and unappealing.”

“Clean & no anti social behaviour specially after 6pm”

“More high Street shops not just rubbish pound shops. Needs to be cleaner, get rid of drug users and beggers, more police presence, more culture and places for families with children to visit”

“Hounslow has a developing cultural identity which brings communities together - this could be extended much more to create a place which has real character and becomes a destination to visit”

“A place where people come to, like Kingston” Hounslow Example comments

“People should be better encouraged to walk, cycle and use public transport. Hounslow is a car-ridden hell hole, populated by people who believe that driving, and parking wherever they want is a basic human right, and who are too lazy to even walk to the corner shop.”

“Facilities to get there other than by public transport or walking. Provide 1000’s of parking places, with reduced rates for residents and a half or one hour free parking. Due to this lack, I seldom visit, preferring kingston with good provision.”

“It needs to cater for the diverse population of Hounslow. Empty shops should be used as cutlural hotspots to inspire community related activities.”

“Need more things to attract people to hounslow - pop up restaurants / pop up shops / things for people not from hounslow to entice them in”

“There is a clear disconnect between both ends of the High Street. One section seems to have improved whilst the other part remains derelict and poorly developed and serviced.”

“When we focus on public transport, there are hardly any buses going to Blenheim centre except the H37. It’s difficult to shop and commute. Even the tube station is not that closeby. Like at Hayes Asda the bus stop is very closeby and it is a great shopping experience. Only if you have your own vehicle you can travel to shop Hounslow Asda.” Transport & Movement comments

Most mentioned themes:

Car parking capacity, convenience, quality and tariff

Bus accessibility, services and and routes

Traffic congestion and road safety

Cycling connections

Public realm improvement

Public realm and placemaking Transport & Movement comments

Collated comments

Walking: There were a number of comments regarding Buses: A couple of comments were made regarding the pedestrian road safety and personal security. Some location and routing of buses, sighting that bus stops are not respondents felt that there needed to be greater priority given located next to key attractors such as Asda, as well as the to pedestrians and particularly vulnerable road users. A couple need to improve the bus stops on Road of respondents commented that they would like to see a more car-free town centre Parking: A number of respondents commented that there was insufficient car parking, or the quality and pricing needed Cycling: There is a desire for a cycle hire scheme in the town review. A couple of respondents felt that greater emphasis centre should be put on resident parking and improvement / extension of a town centre CPZ Wider Connections: There were some comments asking for better, safer pedestrian and cyclist connections from the town Personal security: Some respondents felt that greater centre to neighbourhoods and green spaces policing and council enforcement officers were needed on- street to stop littering and noise pollution. Station environments: One respondent asked that the station environments and connections were improved. Another respondent identified the need for a ‘public transport triangle’ Kingsley Road / Road: There were a couple that provided greater bus / walking and cycling access and of comments on the poor quality of the Kingsley Road and interchange between the two underground stations and the congestion on Lampton Road and the need to improve road town centre safety and the bus situation along this road

Public realm: some respondents commented that they wanted to see cleaner, safer more enjoyable streets and town centre Key summary

Hounslow Feltham Brentford Chiswick Many residents of Hounslow Residents of Feltham think the Residents of Brentford were In Chiswick there is a strong believe improvements to public size of the High Street causes a concerned about the lack of sense of pride for local realm and the quality of shopping disconnect in their town centre. services, such as banks, post business. Residents feel the will help to restore some positive offices and pharmacists, in council need to understand the identity in the town. Many think the road is unsafe relation to the large number of community better and do more but are also concerned the new developments in the town to support these businesses. Driving is a key issue. Many feel physical barrier this creates centre. A number of residents they are being forced out of their is causing levels of anti- were supportive of the major Residents of Chiswick own town by a lack of parking, social behaviour and general schemes and simply wanted to are concerned about the and by tight permit restrictions. uncleanliness in key areas such see them completed. congestion, fast cycle speeds as Feltham Green. The pond and pollution caused as a result Many residents commented that area is a particular highlight for Brentford’s strong historical of the imposed traffic restrictions there is a need to identify what residents, and they do not want it connections are at the forefront and cycle interventions. makes Hounslow a destination. abandoned. of the public conscience. Residents felt Hounslow needs People want to celebrate An engaged local community investment in public realm, leisure It is felt that local centres of Brentford, and feel this can be full of innovative ideas to and community activities in order creativity such as Feltham Arts done by supporting local arts support Chiswick as a vibrant to build pride in their centre and the library could be better (Watermans is a point of pride) town centre. They want to see and a sense of identity and connected to the community and and promoting stronger physical events and markets on the community. town centre. links in the town to support this. High Road and green spaces. residents wanted... residents wanted... residents wanted... residents wanted... better shops safety local amenities less traffic

support for local a sense of place better public realm less flats businesses

investment in green better engagement from a positive identity spaces riverside connections the Council