Richmond Council

We are looking for your input to build The Richmond upon Thames Transport Strategy 2040. The strategy will guide the development of long-term, sustainable, and inclusive transport improvements throughout the borough. It will address the emerging needs of the borough’s residents, businesses, and visitors over the next 15 years. There is a map to which you can pin your comments.

To date there are many comments on Richmond Town Centre and far fewer about East Sheen and Mortlake.

Have your say and tell the Council how it should be shaping its Transport Strategy 2040.This consultation closes on 31 May 2025.

https://richmondtransportstrategy.commonplace.is/

Although the Upper Richmond Road is a Transport for London route it is a key area for East Sheen and Mortlake and a cause of major difficulties. This is not surprising given it is the main south London road route. This received little attention in the Council’s evidence to the Stag Brewery Inquiry nor in the Inspector’s decision.

It was remarkable to hear from two Council officers at a MESS meeting last week that the junction of Sheen Lane iand the Upper Richmond Road is the most polluted spot in Richmond Borough. Not what we heard at the Inquiry.

Conditions are of course made worse by the closure of Hammersmith Bridge. The sad reality is that it is never likely to be opened to vehicles again, so we cannot look to a reopening as a solution.

The frequency with which the level crossing at Mortlake is down causes congestion on all adjacent roads. Network Rail has no plans to improve that area.

When the development at the Stag Brewery gets under way, all these problems will be exacerbated and they demand an urgent solution. The Transport Strategy must address them. It is perhaps understandable that the local community has paid less attention to these problems after several years of battling against excessive local development. But regrettably it appears that yet again we have to say to Richmond Council that Mortlake and East Sheen requires attention.