Concerns raised to Ealing Council over obstructed signage when driving into a School Street Scheme in Acton

Local residents and councillors are asking Ealing Council to improve signage that they say is being obstructed by tree foliage in a School Street Scheme area in Acton which is causing drivers to get tickets having not been given enough notice of what they are driving into.

Drivers in the Hanger Hill ward have been given penalty charge notices when driving through the School Street Scheme at the Holy Family School in Vale Lane, Acton.

Warning signs in the area are obstructed by overhanging trees and leaves making it difficult for drivers to be aware of the signs and which once entered, drivers get an automatic penalty notice.

According to Liberal Democrats, who have been raising the issue with Labour-run Ealing Council for several months, nothing has been done.  Ealing Council has also seen multiple tickets rejected by the Traffic Adjudicator over the issue.

Liberal Democrat Hanger Hill Councillor Athena Zissimos has said she has been trying to get the issue resolved for months but the council has been slow to address the issue. According to the Liberal Democrats, they have supported all of the School Street schemes in Ealing and think they are a good idea.

Councillor Zissimos said: “Drivers continue to be completely unaware, that they have crossed into a School Street until the penalty notice arrives in the post, despite assurances by the Council that the signage is sufficient. It now appears that the Council has decided that it needs to cut back foliage and improve the signs on approach to the Holy Family School. Liberal Democrats say we look forward to the improvements and expect them to be in place before the start of the new school year.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of the Opposition on Ealing Council added: “Liberal Democrats have supported all of the School Street schemes in Ealing. School Street Schemes are a good idea. We want our children to get to school in the safest way possible at the same time but the signs need to be visible and clear.