WESTWAYAT 40A celebration of the road and those that live work

and play alongside and beneath it’s 2.5 miles,

Photography byTom Gildon

WESTWAYAT 40

A celebration of the road andthose that live, work and play

alongside and beneathit’s 2.5 miles.

Westway opened 40 years agoon July 28th 1970

Designed and built as a solution to congested trafficentering and leaving London, it was celebrated as ‘a finepiece of engineering’ and at the time was claimed to be‘Europe’s longest and technically most advanced’ elevatedroad. It was however acknowledged that the motorwaywas ‘a blessing to motorists but not so good for thepedestrians and householders below it’.

600 houses were demolished and 1000 people were movedto make way for the structure with little consideration forthe use of the space beneath. Through the work of localcampaigners and the North Kensington Amenity Trust(subsequently the Westway Development Trust), this spacehas been utilised by myriad different organisations andindividuals. They have created a unique community, turningwhat was once divisive into a coherent, creative and flexiblestructure that defines the landscape from Marylebone toWhite city, through Paddington, Little Venice, Royal Oak,Westbourne Park, Portobello, Ladbroke Grove and LatimerRoad.

Westway stands for many different things to differentpeople, and some of the quotes on the followingpages attest to this. From the privileged but frustratedrock climber to the inspired Reverend, Westway representsa simple shelter for some, an inspiring structure for others.

And what of the drivers who use Westway over 80,000times on a daily basis? The benefits of the road arenumerous, the exhilarating driving experienceunquestioned, but how many think of the role the roadplays in the daily lives of hundreds only a few metres away?

This collection of photographs celebrates both the structureand those that live work and play within metres of Westway,and may prompt people to reappraise what the roadrepresents to them.

Tom Gildon, 30th July 2010

1 / 2

“It’s perfect for when it’s raining - and it’s right on the number 18 bus route”Kurt Valencia

KURT VALENCIA AND SIMEON JOSEPH, FROM HARLESDEN NW10, ROYAL OAK, TUESDAY 6TH JULY

“I’ve been riding here for years, I only live up the road so it’sreally easy to come down whenever. Westway is great for shade when it’s sunny or raining - sometimes the sirens scare the horses butotherwise it’s a great place to ride.”Cleo Maclean

CLEO MACLEAN, WESTWAY STABLES, LATIMER ROAD, W11, THURSDAY 29TH JULY

3

4

“I’ve worked in this ward for a year - north of the Westway and east of Ladbroke Grove. Westway is the main landmark we use for directions, and I would say there’s still a divide between the north and south. The area has a really interesting and difficulthistory, and it’s important to build the trust between the different communities and the police. But I love the area - so many characters - and the main thing is thateverybody has a good heart.”Lindsey Jarrett

LINDSEY JARRETT. COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER, GOLBORNE WARD, NORTH KENSINGTON, THURSDAY 29TH JULY

ADRIAN BAXTER, WESTWAY CLIMBING CENTRE, W12, WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY

“I feel privileged at having such anamazing structure on which to practice my passion but alsofrustrated by the physical limit of the motorway. If only it was 10 metres taller my climbing would be so much better!”Adrian Baxter

Opened in 1981, the Westbourne Park bus depot is First’s largest in London, housing 5 main routes, one heritage route and 4 night routes. 549 people work out of the depot including 458 drivers and with 164 buses there are a total of 1500 manoeuvres in or around the depot on an average day.

MR LEWIS, BUS CONDUCTOR, WESTBOURNE PARK BUS DEPOT, THURSDAY 15TH JULY

St Mary’s Church was built in 1878. When Westway was built, the original church hall was demolished a number of graves were exhumed and moved to Westminster Council’s Mill Hill Cem-etery. Whilst Westway cuts right in front of the church, separating it from the Paddington hospital which took it’s name, Reverend Bradley sees a “beau-tiful juxtaposition against the church”.

Working in the area for 23 years, and performing mass alongside Westway twice a week, he also believes that the sight of the church offers those com-muters who use the hectic road on a regular basis “a space in life that you can reach and make sense of it”.

REVEREND GARY BRADLEY, ST MARY’S CHURCH, PADDINGTON GREEN, TUESDAY 20TH JULY

JOHANNA, HOSTESS, THE SUPPER CLUB, ACKLAM ROAD, W10, WEDNESDAY 7TH JULY 5

LESLIE AMBROSE, MAXILLA WALK, W10, THURSDAY 29TH JULY6

7

ERROL ROMALLY, COSTUME MAKER, YAA ASANTEWAA CARNIVAL GROUP, GREAT WESTERN STUDIOS, THURSDAY 15TH JULY

SUSIE PARSONS, MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT, W10, THURSDAY 29TH JULY

“The little spur of the Westway overhangs our back garden. It was going to be anaccess road, but the GLC listened to the protestors, and they didn’t end up build-ing it. I love it, and the noise isn’t as bad as you would think.”Susie Parsons

OSHI OLABBISI, JUST A MINUTE WATCH AND CLOCK REPAIRS,PORTOBELLO GREEN ARCADE, FRIDAY 8TH JULY

“The dust comes down and gets everywhere but that’s just part of it. I don’t think about the cars. We’re apparently on a crossover ley line and I love the vibrant energy of the area.”Kelly Burns.

VIVI, PORTOBELLO GREEN MARKET AND KELLY BURNS, PORTOBELLO WHOLEFOODS, SATURDAY 17TH JULY

8

LIST OF LANDSCAPES

Cover Looking west from the north side of Paddington Basin1 Looking south from White City2 Looking north from Darfield Way3 Underneath Westway looking north from White City junction4 Early Years Speech and Language therapist, Bromley Road5 Looking east from the 18th floor of the Trellick Tower, Golborne Road6 Looking south to Maxilla walk7 Looking west towards White City from elevated section above Wood Lane8 Looking East at the Academy Sports Centre, Royal Oak

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GILDON