| Topic: | Re:So, is it worth responding to TfL's bus consultations? | |
| Posted by: | Helen Martin | |
| Date/Time: | 14/12/18 15:38:00 |
| I recently attended Rupa Huq’s transport meeting with TFL in Parliament. There was a lot of concern at the change of the 440. In two areas, North Acton and Acton Green, the route is being withdrawn from streets where no other bus route travels. In subsequent correspondence with TFL, who remain totally unmoved by the difficulties this causes people, the sheer lack of proper consultation was highlighted. The original change to the route took the bus over the level crossings in Bollo Lane, down to the end of the Lane by Chiswick Park tube where it turned right instead of left. Then after a rethink they suddenly decided that the level crossings led to unreliability. Asked repeatedly to justify this and produce evidence for it they claimed it ran at 81% of desireability instead of 83% I think it was, no evidence that this was due to the railway however, was produced. And 81% is still quite high I think. The real reason for the new route was to have connection between the Business Park and the new Crossrail station in Acton. However they are introducing this change early next year, while Crossrail is now further delayed till 2020. In the short but vital part of the route they have cut, served by NO other buses whatsoever, a service will not now be offered to the following:- Chiswick Park tube, Gunnersbury Triangle, the 94 bus terminal, Chiswick Health Service, the Fishers Lane stop which gives walking access to Marks and Spencer Food Hall and then, since the route turns right on the High Road, on to Sainsbuty’s Waitrose and the Post Office. This line is a boon to the elderly and schoolchildren and is widely used by both. To reach the above places now, people from south of the level crossings on Bollo Lane and surroundings, will have to walk north, much further ( in the wrong direction) to wait for a 440 that will take them through the CBP, get off wait again for a bus up the high road, buses that with the curtailment of the 27, the reduction of the 391 and the increased congestion caused by the cycle route, will be much reduced. Thus will a ten minute hop to within striking distance of, say, Marks, be reduced to a journey of about a mile that will take nearly an hour when one factors in walks and waiting times. This (ageist) policy - practised all over London by TFL, who only bother with cyclists and working people- boasts about its consultation, yet a glance at the people consulted shows that they did not, for example, consult:- Ealing Council, the council through which most of this cut exists. ( it consulted Hounslow Council who, surprise, approved it)It does not include any consultation with local schools ( though the service is widely used by school children),with the Health Centre, with Marks, Gunnersbury Triangle or the PO. And of course the new Picture House cinema, nor Barclays, or indeed any of the local shops, Waterstones etc. It prevents people from south Acton reaching the new PO parcel collection place in Bollo Lane and, ironically prevents them reaching Crossrail, without walking half way there to find a bus stop Along the entire, long route of the 27 from Chiswick to Chalk Farm AND the entire route of the 440 it placed information on these changes ( to the 27 and the 440 )on only 27 bus stops, none of which were on the cut out route of the 440. The reason being there was not room on the bus stop. There is room however to inform us of its current week long suspension, which gives a very real taste of the difficulties that lie ahead. What does the new route serve?The Business Park. Nothing else. Very useful to Chiswick residents. Able people, or the elderly, to reach Marks, Barclays etc will now have to take an hour long journey with a change of buses, to travel the ten minute journey they have expunged, or walk across Acton Green and Chiswick Back Common ( now a crime hot spot) in all weathers and in the dark, simply to go about their local business. The new route it serves will not be even needed until at least 2020. How does this in any way serve the local community? What is the morality of cutting routes along which no other buses travel ( not so true of the 27 and the 94 when it happens, though very annoying) Reduce the numbers of buses I suggested. Oh no we wouldn’t like to do that, there wouldn’t be enough capacity (the word helpfully explained for us poor illiterate idiots in Chiswick) if we did that. So the route will be cut because there was no demand for it, only it can’t be cut because there is too much demand. Neither option of which do they know anything about because they haven’t consulted the people it affects. Well it affects me, for one. So is it worth responding to bus consultations, yes it is, but it’s even more worthwhile ensuring they ask you in the first place. And that includes Ealing Council. |