Women's Safety Concerns About Traffic Scheme Must Be Addressed
Greg Hands MP for Chelsea and Fulham reporting back
Greg Hands with Hillary Cannon a local business owner who has been campaigning on this issue
February 19, 2024
Dear Resident,
As you will know, cameras have been installed and traffic measures put in place by Hammersmith & Fulham Council (LBHF) to restrict non-borough traffic driving through the area with the aim of pushing traffic on to the main roads of Fulham. These are called the SW6 Traffic Schemes.
However, since the introduction of the controversial schemes by LBHF, I have been contacted by countless residents and businesses about their impact on the local area.
Last year, I decided to survey residents on the SW6 Traffic Schemes and over 3,800 residents across Chelsea and Fulham responded to the survey, with every part of the constituency being opposed to the schemes. 70% of respondents across Chelsea & Fulham do not support the schemes.
Following these results, I have been urging the council to conduct a full Fulham-wide traffic management study alongside a Fulham-wide consultation to end this divisive and piecemeal approach that has turned neighbour against neighbour.
The Council have followed my lead and in 2024 - 4 years after introducing the schemes - has decided to consult residents on their SW6 Traffic Schemes. However, I am concerned, due to their survey questions. The survey closed on Friday, 2 February. I continue to follow very closely for developments.
The scheme as it is currently designed, is impacting local businesses and impacts those who depend on cars from time to time - like those using Ubers, those who have carers from outside the local area, the disabled, those who depend on deliveries of medicines, and so on.
A very serious concern shared by local women and women-owned businesses, which has been reflected in recent media coverage, is that many Uber (and other mobile app taxi services) drivers are refusing to enter the area(s) due to fear of being fined. Alarmingly, this is resulting in women not being dropped off at their front doors, and instead women are dropped off outside of the zone(s). Women are then having to walk home, often alone, at night.
A poster issued by Greg Hands on the issue promoting his petition
I have, of course, been in contact with the local business owner, Hillary Cannon, who has taken up the campaign against the traffic scheme with skill and gusto. As we have seen, she has posted on social media a forceful message, with which I fully agree, highlighting the issue of women’s safety and has since set up a WhatsApp safety group for women who live in the neighbourhood. I am working with Hillary to amplify this important issue and have thanked her for everything she is doing for our community.
Hillary contacted the Council on the issue - directly to the Council Leader and to the Council Deputy Leader - without (to date) receiving any reply from LBHF. I am very disappointed that the Council does not seem to want to engage with Hillary, her complaints or women’s safety issue more generally. I urge them to re-think their intransigence.
Women’s safety is an important issue that needs to be urgently addressed by Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Ensuring that residents feel safe is a priority for me. Residents and business owners are calling for action and so am I. Therefore, I have launched a petition calling on the council to suspend the SW6 Traffic Schemes until women’s safety concerns are addressed. You can read more about it and sign by clicking here!
Best wishes,
Greg Hands
The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP
Member of Parliament for Chelsea & Fulham
You can follow Greg on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for @GregHands
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