2-887-758 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

Westway Flyover, A40, Kensington and Chelsea, London, 28/07/1970. Michael Heseltine and a group of journalists at the opening of the Westway Flyover, with a protest banner draped in the background. Michael Heseltine was Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport at the time and deputised for the Minister John Peyton to cut the tape for the opening of the Westway Flyover. Acklam Road was the focus of protests against the Westway by local residents. Houses along one side of the street had been demolished to make way for the flyover and at a reception held earlier that day at the Lord’s Tavern, George Clark, leader of the residents’ social rights committee, had presented their objections to the Minister of Transport and representatives from the Greater London Council. The photograph shows a banner that reads 'Get us out of this hell rehouse us now' draped from the parapet of houses on Acklam Road. By September, the GLC had promised the residents that they would be rehoused. The photograph was taken near grid reference TQ2463581685.