Over spring and summer, Conservative-led Harrow Council has been introducing a cycle lane on Marsh Road, with the implementation including temporary traffic lights in a manner that has resulted in significant disruption for residents, commuters and local businesses, to the point where people are simply avoiding coming to Pinner at all.

The way the roadworks have been planned and carried out has had a serious impact on Pinner's economy. Businesses that would normally benefit from increased footfall during the summer months have instead seen a sharp fall in customers and revenue, a direct result of the congestion all through Pinner. Pinner High Street is one of the borough's few remaining traditional high streets, but with empty shopfronts already a concern, this disruption risks making the situation even worse.

According to Pinner Business Hub, many local shops and businesses are reporting typical reductions of 30%-50% of their monthly revenue while the roadworks have been underway.  Charities in particular have reported weekly sales down by hundreds of pounds as fewer people are visiting the area.  The Business Hub considers the impacts since February this year to be very similar to the effects of Covid, except worse in terms of the environmental impacts of emissions and vehicle fumes in the gridlocked areas.  The Business Hub has raised the matter repeatedly with Council infrastructure officers and with local Councillors from Pinner and Pinner South Wards, and many local shops have reported their concerns directly to the Councillors.  

Business Hub Chair, Sharon Pink, explained that simply implementing temporary traffic lights on the main road through Pinner without any other accompanying measures to mitigate the impacts on side roads and those that feed into the main route has created the regular gridlock that has also led to increasing incidents of road rage seen regularly by pedestrians and commuters.  She highlights similarities with the Covid situation for the local shopkeepers and the consequent need for the Council to step up and provide some funding so that the local businesses can put on some events and promotions to bring people back to Pinner.  

The only response so far from the Council has been a printed flyer aiming to communicate benefits from the cycle lane scheme, with many shop owners pointing out now that if they go out of business while this scheme is being put in, that is not a benefit they would ever have wanted….  

Business Hub Deputy Chair Sunil Bilakhia, owner of Bodywise, says footfall in the area has reduced 30-40% with trade impacted similarly and many of his regular customers calling to say they are avoiding Pinner since March.  He says “After 30 years in Business in Pinner, probably one of the oldest surviving companies, I may not be able to survive much longer!!! We went through Covid and survived... BUT, this impact is really worse.  And despite several emails to the Council Leaders, no positive reply for help from anyone!  Does the Council realise that people's life time work and effort can be impacted so much by some silly decisions, with some businesses in the verge of collapse?” 

Joseph Gaunt, Chair of Harrow Liberal Democrats and a Pinner resident, said:
"We want to encourage more people to cycle, but any plans to introduce new cycle lanes must properly consider the short-term impact on residents, commuters and local businesses.

"Anyone who has travelled through Pinner this summer will have experienced the disruption caused by the roadworks and temporary traffic lights.

"At a time when our local businesses need our support more than ever, many have been left counting the cost of poor planning. The Conservative Council has put businesses and the unique character of Pinner High Street at unnecessary risk. This is simply not good enough. Businesses affected by the way these roadworks are being implemented deserve fair compensation."