That was the week that was
Saturday 28 November - story 147
The rhythm of local life has a habit of circling back to transport, it seems. Since returning from my October hiatus, the pattern has been unmistakable: the way we move — or fail to move — continues to shape many arguments about how Barnes should evolve. This week was no exception.
Hammersmith Bridge remains the anchor of this project. Its closure is the reason Bridged2050 exists, and how we use it to build something better sits at the heart of the blog’s question: how do we live well here during the climate crisis? That’s why the week opened with a close look at Nick Maini’s analysis, showing that the closure has coincided with less traffic and congestion on nearby Thames crossings than before. His findings echo the data Wandsworth Council published a week earlier. Political leaders need to own and act according to this data-informed truth.
Closer to (my) home, Bridged argued that Richmond Council should use White Hart Lane as the testbed for its tougher stance on engine idling. The proposal stems from autumn research showing only a third of drivers cut their engines at the level crossing.
Nearly 200 people have now signed the Barnes Community Association-backed petition calling for HGVs to be banned from The Terrace. This ban is necessary if the road is to fulfil its part in making Barnes a pedestrian-first area.
Transport for London (TfL) began trailing its annual Travel in London report. BBC London highlighted one headline figure: cycling journeys have risen 43% in six years, now reaching 1.5 million trips a day. I’m part of that uplift. IanVisits pointed to the important nuance in this number. TfL will release the full report in December. It will be interesting to see after a decade of stalled progress, has there been any shift towards public transport, cycling and walking?
The distinctive housing profile of Richmond borough, and with it Barnes, featured twice in recently. Richmond is one of just five boroughs where not a single affordable home is currently being built. At the same time, 3,600 local properties valued above £2m will face a new council tax surcharge from 2028. Some residents are not happy, “I don’t live in a mansion, it’s a 1930s house.”
Window shopping the estate agents on Barnes High Street makes clear how many of these homes are in SW13. Housing — along with the green environment — will feature more in the New Year. If we’re serious about asking what it means to live well here, we cannot avoid the reality that the average home remains far beyond the reach of most.
Finally the Mayor has been showcasing the capital’s credentials. This blog has always believed London is the world’s greatest city: that description appears in several of the early posts. Sadiq Khan took to social media to spell out who else agreed with this assessment.
He would say that, of course. But even so, it’s quite a list. Lucky, aren’t we?