We meet via Zoom each month, at 6.30pm. Usually on the first Tuesday of each month but our next meeting will be on Tuesday 9th April to avoid a clash with the Easter weekend. Please email to oonforum@gmail.com to join our mailing/membership list. PDFs of the slides used at our meetings can be downloaded from this page on this website.
You are welcome to join the Forum if you live or work in (or near) the area of north-west London for which the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation has been the local planning authority since 2015. Membership of the Forum is free and open to all.
At our March meeting we discussed the news from HS2 of a potential closure of Old Oak Common Lane to vehicles for up to 4 years, from the end of this year. Until last month a one year closure, to lower the road surface beneath the rail bridge near the entrance to OOC station, was the longest period envisaged.
Local MPs and ward councillors in Hammersmith and in Ealing recognise the chaos and disruption that a long-term closure would cause. Urgent meetings are taking place between OPDC, HS2 and the Boroughs.
The email below was circulated on 7th March by Peter Gow from HS2 to Wells House Road Residents Association and many others who have been asking about this shock news. It was at a meeting of Wells House Road that the prospect of a 4 year road clusure was first announced,
Thank you for your emails. Apologies for the slight delay in responding, I was on leave.
I know that the recent engagement on Old Oak Common Lane closures has created a lot of understandable concern in the community and I want to reassure you that HS2 are very conscious of the impacts our planned works will have and are looking at all opportunities to minimize these. For clarity – there has been no decision on the strategy for closures on Old Oak Common lane and this is still subject to further discussion. A single, longer road closure is one option being considered to minimize the overall impact but all options are being explored. I want to be honest and transparent however in saying that there will be a need for significant road closures (or one longer closure) to allow the complex utility, bridge and road lowering works to be completed safely. We will ensure that any closures are planned carefully and consider all the impacts that this will have in the area, some of which you have rightfully highlighted in your emails.
To help inform residents and local businesses of what we are doing to develop the most appropriate road closure strategy for all, we will set up a drop in session on the 19 March to provide an opportunity for anyone to come and discuss their concerns. Further information about this will be advertised in the next few days. We will continue to engage with the community on this topic.
Your emails also contain some wider concerns, outside of the road closure topic which I am also keen to discuss and will make sure these are discussed and addressed in the regular Community Representative meetings.
I will maintain an open dialogue on this topic, as will all topics, going forwards.
Kind regards
Peter
Peter Gow (He/Him) | Project Client Director (Interim) – S4 Old Oak Common | HS2 Ltd
OONF is now researching all past OPDC planning decisions on HS2 applications for works at Old Oak Common, under Schedule 17 of the HS2 Act. So far we are not finding any mention in HS2’s application documents of a potential 4 year closure of Old Oak Common Lane. Nor are we finding references in OPDC reports and notifications of decisions, of any endorsement or approval to a 4 year road closure.
Closure of a section of Old Oak Common Lane for up to a year has long been recognised as a likely requirement and is cited in the HS2 Environmental Statement. The impact of closure for 4 years is a very different matter and would impact hugely on the lives of residents and businesses in the area.