Hounslow Council leader Steve Curran has survived a no-confidence vote challenging his leadership over controversial traffic changes in Chiswick.

In a full council meeting on Tuesday, Conservative group leader Cllr Gerald McGregor, backed by former Tory leader cllr Joanna Biddolph, brought the move over what they called a "shambles".

The road changes come amid plans to create a South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood, and a range of trial traffic-calming measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic as part of the council's Streetspace scheme.

They are designed to boost active travel such as walking and cycling in the area, as part of a government initiative being trialled across many London boroughs and nationwide.

But in Chiswick it has led to angry backlash from some residents, with petitions gaining thousands of signatures. A fresh petition prompted by the vote, calling for the council to reverse all road changes in Chiswick received 4,295 signatures by the end of November 10.

Cllr McGregor said the cabinet had "declared war on the motorcar", and that the motion against the leader was to show the dissatisfaction with leading cabinet members involved in the decision making over traffic changes.

He added: "The shambles that is Chiswick's street scene leads to one consolable outcome, there is no place in Hounslow for the residents of Chiswick, who have been treated by this council with contempt."

Cllr Biddolph said: "I am seconding this motion because of the total lack of regard the leader has for one entire area of the borough we serve. It is not our place to destroy towns, divide communities, drive people out."

But Labour members continued to back cllr Curran, and won the majority in support of their leader, while the minority Tory councillors voted against him.

Hounslow Council Labour group chair, cllr Salman Shaheen, said: "While the Tories set about grandstanding and making pointless political gestures this Labour council has been getting on making vital support to thousands of vulnerable residents and hard-up residents across the borough amid a global crisis of unprecedented proportions."

Cabinet member for education, Tom Bruce, said while it is important as an administration to reflect on its decisions, and accepted it has not always been "perfect", he added: "Our achievements and successes speak volumes for what we've done as a council.

"This is a strong Labour council, this is a strong administration and this is an excellent leader and I utterly reject the motion."

Elsewhere in the three-hour marathon meeting, the council approved the cabinet's Local Plan Review which cllr Curran hoped will give a "clear steer" to Hounslow's communities and investors over how the council will provide jobs, homes and industries for the future.

And the cabinet's Medium Term Financial Strategy was also approved as the borough has suffered a heavy economic impact from the pandemic.

Finance lead, cllr Shantanu Rajawat, said: "We are well on the way to delivering a balanced budget.

"We are not though an authority in dire financial trouble…and this enables us to build a stable financial platform in which we can grow.

"For now in moving this we support our new recovery plan, we support our residents most in need, and [it] provides an environment in which our businesses can thrive."