Don't Close Church Street is a community group of residents who are campaigning for Hounslow Council to re-open Church Street, Isleworth.

The Impact of the Closure

Hounslow Council have closed Church Street which has at peak times pushed an estimated 2,600 additional vehicles onto surrounding roads including the Twickenham Road which already operated at capacity prior to the closure.  The additional congestion has had a devastating impact on the environment, journey times, local businesses and community cohesion.  We are fundraising for a Judicial Review to quash Hounslow Council's decision to close Church Street. 

In a March 2017 consultation, 71% of respondents from the two nearest and most affected wards (Isleworth and Syon) and 58% of all respondents, called for Church Street to be re-opened. 

Five schools and West Middlesex Maternity and A&E Hospital are located on this stretch of road. In one of those schools, 2 - 4 yr olds play metres from the most congested and polluted road.

Hounslow Council accept that there has been a 20% increase in peak pm traffic on the Twickenham Road as a result of the closure. Traffic consultants Paul Mews Associates have noted that even slight increases in traffic flow can disproportionately affect delays and journey times. Stationary traffic exponentially increases emissions.  Surrounding residential roads have experienced significant increases in rat running as drivers attempt to avoid the congestion.

Whilst the emergency blue light services make their way through most things, the increased congestion requires emergency vehicles to execute difficult manoeuvres and pick their way down the middle of two lanes of traffic.

There has been a fourfold increase in accidents at the junction of Amhurst Gardens, adjacent to Isleworth Town School and opposite West Middlesex Hospital. 

Hounslow Council claim there has been a reduction of NO2 in the affected area but they do not monitor many of the most polluted sites in the area, compare results from 2014 with results from 2016 and accept that there has been a 6.3% decrease across the entire borough in 2016.

Community NO2 monitoring in the affected area has consistently returned highly exceedent readings that tend to indicate that even the legal hourly limit is being routinely breached.

In the coming months two large luxury riverside private housing developments will complete bringing many more residents and their cars to the affected area.  A sixth school will also open in September 2017.

Please support this campaign so that Hounslow Council works with the local community to find a fit for purpose solution to the area's traffic issues.

What will the Crowd Funding cover?

Stage 1

• Solicitors reviewing papers and providing preliminary advice

Stage 2

• Instructing barrister
• Drafting Letter of Claim
• Drafting grounds for Judicial Review
• Drafting of Arhaus Convention protective cost order application (to seek to reduce liability to Hounslow Council to £5,000)

Stage 3

• Reviewing  response and evidence from Hounslow Council
• Redrafting for Judicial Review in light of Hounslow Council's response
• Drafting Claim Form and evidence in support
• Issuing Proceedings 
• Reviewing Response of Council and preparing evidence in reply
• Preparation for and attending court hearing

Stage 4 

• Post judgement matters

TOTAL LEGAL FEES: £48,000 including VAT

CrowdJustice charge a 5% fee on all sums raised.