Help with suggestions for improving the Old Oak Estate W12

Following the declaration of climate emergency by H&F council I have been in touch with my Cllr. Wesley Harcourt regarding suggested improvements that aim to:

1. Reduce rat-running through the estate
   
2. Encourage people living on the estate to travel within the estate by foot or cycle
   
3. Improve the area around Old Oak Primary school
   
4. Create places for residents to gather and hang out
   
5. Minimise the fly-tipping, possible muggings and drug dealing at specific locations around the estate.
   
   

Wesely has asked for specific proposals that he can discuss with his officers and perhaps work up to a Liveable Streets funding bid to TfL. I would like to pull ideas together to send him and get some input from the forum hive mind. Hence this thread.

The Old Oak Estate is a conservation area built in the 20’s, Arts and Craft style garden city. It is a neglected area because, geographically it is cut off from the rest of North Kensington by the Westway to the south and the railway to the north. It borders Wormwood Scrubs to the east and Ealing to the West. It is also predominantly a working-class area with 50% of Estate being council houses.

I have annotated a google map with some rough ideas that I’d like to flesh out with some help. I have created 4 layers on this map for each idea and extended the reach of my suggestions to include the little shopping Parade on Old Oak Common lane, and a proposal to improve the crossing the Westway.
Here is the map:

Proposal 1 (Layer 1): Modal filters to prevent rat running
Drivers use the estate to cut their journey from Ducane Road to Old Oak Common Lane. I suggest that barriers are installed on the junctions of Ducane roads with Wulfstan Street and with Fitzneal Street. Which leaves only two ways in and out of the estate, North end of Wulfstan St and North end of Fitzneal Street.

Proposal 2 (Layer 2): Pedestrian/Play street areas
One area closed to all traffic would be around the School. This could be closed during the school run time or even permanently, though some vehicles would need to access the school.
Close the section on Erconwold Street between Fitzneal and Henchman Street making the space outside East Acton Station more pleasant especially under the railway bridge where lighting and artwork and Parklets can be installed. (Dealing with drug dealers and fly tippers).
(The rail bridge crossing Ducane road is also pretty grim and would benefit from improved lighting and artwork)

Proposal 3 (Layer 3). Old Oak common lane shopping parade
Currently it is very difficult to cross the road where Ducane road meets Old Oak Common lane, a shopping parade. The lights are very confusing and people on foot can’t cross the road in one go.
There used to be a zebra crossing just north of that junction which was removed. Reinstating this would help, plus more steps/ramps from the raised pavement on the east side of the street so people have additional crossing points.

[Propsal 4 (Layer 4) Remove the gyratory and create a public space where Old Oak Common lane meets the Westway
This idea is beyond this remit though since the removal of Homebase here and the planned building of flats it is worth adding to the mix improving the crossing a removing the Western arm of the gyratory.]

Thank you if you have read this far!

I am aiming to write up this for Wesley over the next few weeks and any suggestions will really help. If anyone wishes to visit the area (it is a fascinating part of London) I’m up for giving a tour and buying people a beer in the Castle pub.

@Oliver Schick @mespilus We could arrange a West beers to discuss ideas.