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January 17, 2001 15:00: A controversial project which supporters say will return rural values to Ealing will be trialled from next month following support from residents.

The project, called a Home Zone, means five residential roads in West Ealing will be redesigned to give priority to pedestrians and inhabitants.

It aims to reduce the number of cars passing through Hartington, Broughton, Arden, Denmark and Hastings roads, and slow them down by putting in raised gateways at the street entrances and imposing a 20mph speed limit.

Ealing's proposed Home Zone, which is one of nine similar projects piloted throughout the country by the Government, was supported by 76 per cent of residents consulted.

The majority of them also said yes to angled parking in the roads to slow traffic, as well as levelling out the road and pavement in part of the zone to create an area shared between pedestrians and cars.

They also supported a proposal to create a village feel in the new levelled-out area with tree planting, decorative paving and a notice board, although the majority rejected putting in seats and a children's play area.

"This is a development which has wide support throughout Europe," said Hugh Comerfordcheck spelling of the Five Roads Forum, which pushed for the five roads to trial the scheme.

"The rural values of the last century are beginning to come back to the streets of Ealing people meeting each other outside their houses.

"If we wish to stimulate our community we have to meet on the streets, and the one thing which has been standing in the way of this is too many cars coming down our streets too quickly."

But opponents of the scheme have predicted it will spread traffic chaos outside the five roads and say it has been presented without enough facts on the effect it will have on traffic congestion.

The plan is expected to be approved by the council's cabinet later this month before a series of community meetings are held to thrash out the finer details.

Central Government will monitor the success of Ealing's Home Zone and compare it with other trials across the country before deciding whether to introduce it to other areas.

By.Emily Rogers

9:30am Wednesday 17th January 2001

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