http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&...33. 77,,0,2.2
As you enter the bridge from the south, there are part-time signs (venetian
blind affairs) either side of the road. When they say something, what do
they say? Something to do with Chelsea matches, perhaps? There seems to be
nothing comparable at the north end or on adjacent bridges.

Basil Jet wrote on 28 October
2009 16:50:20 ...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&...33. 77,,0,2.2
As you enter the bridge from the south, there are part-time signs (venetian
blind affairs) either side of the road. When they say something, what do
they say? Something to do with Chelsea matches, perhaps? There seems to be
nothing comparable at the north end or on adjacent bridges.

IIRC there used to be some variable panels on a number of direction
signs along the A3220 (West Cross Route). Most of them seem to have
disappeared, but there is one in Addison Road on the approach to
Kensington High Street. In fact Google Street View at
http://tinyurl.com/ylmsmrb shows it directing traffic for Central
London and Earl's Court up Ken High Street instead of straight ahead
into Warwick Gardens. There are also lifting barriers across the
entrance to Warwick Gardens (which in the usual open position on Google
Street View).
--
Richard J.
(to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address)

In message , Basil Jet
writes

As you enter the bridge from the south, there are part-time signs (venetian
blind affairs) either side of the road. When they say something, what do
they say? Something to do with Chelsea matches, perhaps? There seems to be
nothing comparable at the north end or on adjacent bridges.

I may have entirely mis-remembered this, but I think they originally
gave warning that there was no turn onto the embankment after emerging
from the north end of the bridge at certain times - instead, traffic was
directed via Beaufort Street and the King's Road.

This became impractical when the western congestion zone was introduced,
because it would have forced drivers into the charging zone that many
were trying to avoid.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I've got that entirely wrong!
--
Paul Terry

On 28 Oct, 19:12, Paul Terry wrote:
In message , Basil Jet
writes

As you enter the bridge from the south, there are part-time signs (venetian
blind affairs) either side of the road. When they say something, what do
they say? Something to do with Chelsea matches, perhaps? There seems to be
nothing comparable at the north end or on adjacent bridges.

I may have entirely mis-remembered this, but I think they originally
gave warning that there was no turn onto the embankment after emerging
from the north end of the bridge at certain times - instead, traffic was
directed via Beaufort Street and the King's Road.

This became impractical when the western congestion zone was introduced,
because it would have forced drivers into the charging zone that many
were trying to avoid.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I've got that entirely wrong!
--
Paul Terry

They were weight restriction signs. Max 5 tonnes from memory. I not
sure why they were that design or why you could have a weight
restiction at some time but not at others. Havent seen them used for
many years.

Richard J. wrote:
Basil Jet wrote on 28 October
2009 16:50:20 ...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&...33. 77,,0,2.2
As you enter the bridge from the south, there are part-time signs
(venetian blind affairs) either side of the road. When they say
something, what do they say? Something to do with Chelsea matches,
perhaps? There seems to be nothing comparable at the north end or on
adjacent bridges.

IIRC there used to be some variable panels on a number of direction
signs along the A3220 (West Cross Route). Most of them seem to have
disappeared, but there is one in Addison Road on the approach to
Kensington High Street. In fact Google Street View at
http://tinyurl.com/ylmsmrb shows it directing traffic for Central
London and Earl's Court up Ken High Street instead of straight ahead
into Warwick Gardens. There are also lifting barriers across the
entrance to Warwick Gardens (which in the usual open position on
Google Street View).

Those poles are closed every night from, I think, 11pm, and those variable
signs are still used nightly.

Those poles are closed every night from, I think, 11pm, and those variable
signs are still used nightly.- Hide quoted text -



Ah I need to get out more. Dont do late nights very often these
days

Basil Jet wrote on 29 October
2009 01:01:54 ...
Richard J. wrote:
Basil Jet wrote on 28 October
2009 16:50:20 ...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&...33. 77,,0,2.2
As you enter the bridge from the south, there are part-time signs
(venetian blind affairs) either side of the road. When they say
something, what do they say? Something to do with Chelsea matches,
perhaps? There seems to be nothing comparable at the north end or on
adjacent bridges.
IIRC there used to be some variable panels on a number of direction
signs along the A3220 (West Cross Route). Most of them seem to have
disappeared, but there is one in Addison Road on the approach to
Kensington High Street. In fact Google Street View at
http://tinyurl.com/ylmsmrb shows it directing traffic for Central
London and Earl's Court up Ken High Street instead of straight ahead
into Warwick Gardens. There are also lifting barriers across the
entrance to Warwick Gardens (which in the usual open position on
Google Street View).

Those poles are closed every night from, I think, 11pm, and those variable
signs are still used nightly.

Someone very influential lives there presumably. It's quite an
achievement to get a primary route closed every night, with traffic
forced on to a B-road instead (B316 Earl's Court Road). Anyone know the
history of this?
--
Richard J.
(to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address)

In message , Richard J.
writes

Someone very influential lives there presumably. It's quite an
achievement to get a primary route closed every night, with traffic
forced on to a B-road instead (B316 Earl's Court Road). Anyone know
the history of this?

I don't think it was due to any one person, although there was
undoubtedly considerable clout in the area as most of the properties in
Pembroke Road and Warwick Gardens are large (in the £3m+ bracket these
days).

As I recall, from living in the area 40 years ago, the night-time
diversion arose out of the collapse of the Ringway 1 motorway scheme,
which was only built from Westway down to Shepherds Bush. The intention
was to continue it above the West London Line as far as the Thames, but
when that was abandoned it was realised that there would be much greater
traffic on what is now the A1220, but what was then just a series of
quiet and unclassified residential roads.

Nobody bothered much about Addison Road, which had already been blighted
by the proposals, or about Earl's Court Road, much of which was (and is)
fronted by shops and flats, but there were vociferous protests south of
Ken High Street (these were the days of the "homes before roads"
movement, so there was a lot of support from outside the area). The
night-time change of route was therefore offered as a sop - which still
works today.
--
Paul Terry

Paul Terry wrote:
In message , Basil Jet
writes

As you enter the bridge from the south, there are part-time signs
(venetian blind affairs) either side of the road. When they say
something, what do they say? Something to do with Chelsea matches,
perhaps? There seems to be nothing comparable at the north end or on
adjacent bridges.

I may have entirely mis-remembered this, but I think they originally
gave warning that there was no turn onto the embankment after emerging
from the north end of the bridge at certain times - instead, traffic
was directed via Beaufort Street and the King's Road.

This became impractical when the western congestion zone was
introduced, because it would have forced drivers into the charging
zone that many were trying to avoid.

Thanks. I presume you mean only the right turn was banned.

It seems an odd place to have such a warning sign, since you would have been
already committed to using Battersea Bridge by then.

Richard J. wrote:

Someone very influential lives there presumably. It's quite an
achievement to get a primary route closed every night, with traffic
forced on to a B-road instead (B316 Earl's Court Road). Anyone know
the history of this?

No, but every time Chelsea play at home, all the traffic in Fulham Broadway
(primary route) gets forced into Harwood Road (B-road).

Incidentally, Departures Road (the taxi road at Paddington Station) used to
run northbound, but Westminster Council made it southbound with a forced
right turn into Craven Road/Eastbourne Terrace because a certain influential
individual was fed up with the constant stream of taxis past his place in
London Street. This has cost London's taxi passengers and tourists something
like a million pounds a year since it was done.