This annual event - pollen and very fine hairs (microscopic trichomes) falling from plane trees along and near Chiswick High Road - causes coughing and sneezing, scratchy eyes and runny noses. This is not hay fever but people with hay fever will be even more badly affected. The three Conservative candidates for Chiswick Gunnersbury ward have asked Hounslow council to divert its mechanical road sweepers to Chiswick High Road to remove as much as possible of the pollen that is currently falling from the High Road’s handsome plane trees. Cllrs Joanna Biddolph, Ron Mushiso and Vickram Grewal have written to the cabinet member for street cleaning, Cllr Shivraj Grewal, asking for Chiswick High Road to be swept thoroughly, late at night when the road is more likely to be clear to get rid of as much of the fallen pollen as possible to reduce its impact and make sure it isn’t distributed especially if it is windy.
As normal activities on the High Road - walking, driving, cycling, etc - will also disturb the pollen, they have asked that it be swept daily until the last of the pollen has fallen. They stressed that it must be done by mechanical sweeper to avoid it being spread by brooms, adding that whoever operates the mechanical sweeper must be provided with protective clothing, to avoid it being breathed in and affecting eyes. In a joint statement, Cllr Joanna Biddolph, Cllr Vickram Grewal and Cllr Ron Mushiso said,
“It takes everyone by surprise every year. First, it’s a niggling cough from tiny hairs catching in the throat; then sneezing with eyes becoming very irritated and watery. We realise that we can’t stop the pollen and trichomes from falling, but the council could reduce the risks by removing the swathes of pollen that collect on the pavement and along the pavement edge, in gutters, including along the cycle lane.
"It makes being on the High Road very challenging yet locals want to support our local economy, and our traders need them to buy from them, particularly as all local businesses are going through such a tough time currently and badly need our custom.
“It’s about minimising the effect it might have and ensuring that Chiswick High Road is as pleasant and enjoyable as it is possible to be, even during this annual occurrence. Removing fallen pollen and trichomes would reduce the amount there is to be disturbed by everyday activities or blown about by the wind.
"We would like the mechanical sweepers to be be deployed during the night when the roads are most likely to be clear, to ensure that as much as possible is removed before the working day starts. Best practice says that it should be removed by vacuum, not swept with a brush, and ideally dampened first with the workers wearing protective clothing including masks.”
Cllr Peter Thompson, leader of the Conservative group on Hounslow council, confirmed that the group would make sure this was programmed into the street cleaning schedule every year. “It’s an annual event that affects huge numbers of people when out on Chiswick High Road. It can’t be avoided and I feel particularly badly for residents with hay fever and for our traders, such as our flower and fruit and veg stall holders, who have to work outside and in it all day long. The least we can do is try to minimise the amount of pollen and microscopic trichomes there are in the area by removing them with a mechanical sweeper”.
Media coverage 2026
- Call for Action to Protect Hay Fever Sufferers on the High Road - Shedding season for London Planes causing discomfort for many: chiswickw4.com, 22nd April 2026
