Lib Dems welcome Hanger Lane Subway refurbishment finally...
Refurbishment underway and due to complete in three months.
If you have been travelling through the Hanger Lane subway recently, you may have noticed that it is looking cleaner and brighter these days. At long last, there is some investment and refurbishment going on. After years of wading through mud to enter Hanger Lane Station, a transformation is underway. You may need sunglasses to view the bridge with its bright colours transformed by local artist David Samuel, who has also undertaken other pieces in North Acton. The broken and chipped tiles at entrances are being replaced with new tiles, keeping to the original design. Works are expected to be completed by September 2026.
How has this come about, you may ask? It is through two years of persistent lobbying by local Hanger Hill Councillor Athena Zissimos who has been chasing what has happened to local s106 monies1. She began by wanting to establish a list of what s106 monies the Stay Club, the new student accommodation in the middle of the Gyratory, was contributing to the local area. She discovered that £235,000 s106 funds had already been given to the London Borough of Ealing (LBE) by the Stay Club. It was specifically to be spent on doing up the subway system under Hanger Lane.
It is Transport for London (TfL) who are responsible for the subway, except for sweeping, which remains with LBE. Thus, LBE handed over the money to TfL. TfL, however, seemed to “misplace” the funds in their systems and so it “disappeared” without the works being done. It took over a year of chasing and following up with TfL and LBE to identify the funds and the works designed and approved. S106 monies must be spent on the activities intended - in this case, subway improvement services.
So once the monies were located, TfL could outline the works. It is expected that new tiles will be installed to the original design, ensuring some continuity of heritage as well as beauty in the built environment.
A separate project (independently funded) will be creating more art in the middle column, and there will be a plaque put up to celebrate the mural tile art that was originally put up many years ago by now notable mural artist Sarah Morris2.
So it is through the dedicated diligence of Councillor Athena Zissimos asking questions over two years that have finally wrought the desired change to regenerate Hanger Lane Subway!
It is great to see that the subways have had an extra cleanse to remove graffiti. The usual annual clean is imminent, and Councillor Athena Zissimos sees this schedule as insufficient and needs to be increased in frequency. She has also been campaigning hard to increase subway sweeping more regularly. So that the Hanger Lane Gyratory is looking good, washed, cleaned, with new tiles and a new paint job!
Councillor Athena Zissimos - Environment, Streets, Parks and Climate Change Spokesperson said: “Liberal Democrats are pleased that the original tile designs are being adhered to in Hanger Lane Subway, returning it to its former glory and contributing to a clean and refurbished community environment. It shows that it is only through my persistence, doggedness and diligence that this project is delivering. The Liberal Democrats deliver for local residents.”
Notes to editors
1 S106 monies - Section 106 (S106) money refers to financial contributions that property developers are legally required to pay to local authorities. These funds are secured through “planning obligations” under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to mitigate the direct impacts a new development has on a local community.
S106 contributions ensure that infrastructure and services can cope with the strain of new residents. Common uses include:
- Affordable Housing: Funding social housing or providing below market-rate properties.
- Education: Expanding local schools, building nurseries, or adding classrooms.
- Healthcare: Upgrading or building new GP surgeries and health centres.
- Transport & Infrastructure: Improving public travel, such as new cycle paths or funding road improvements.
- Community Facilities: Creating public parks, playgrounds, and community or sports centres.
2 Link to Sarah Morris Mural Artist: https://www.sarahmorris.com