Save Our Streets

228 Bus in action

2009-02-23T01:07:00.000-08:00

Walking through Shepherds Bush early this morning, on the way to the gym, I was startled by the loud roar of a 228 bus hurtling down Bloemfontein Road driven badly by the obligatory crap driver. This was at 0615. It made me recall the rubbish TfL had tried to feed us about how quiet they were. I pity the people that now have to put up with this.

Your Victory Reported

2009-01-17T04:24:00.001-08:00

Yes we could!

2009-01-10T00:11:00.000-08:00

STEVENTON ROAD SAVED - TFL DEFEATED - RESIDENTS WIN BATTLE

In an email from Chris Bainbridge, Transport officer at H&F Council, residents were today informed that the proposed bus route which TfL have tried to force down Steventon Road W12 in opposition to residents wishes has finally been consigned to history.

Residents of the street, which already has buses going to the same Westfield destination at both ends of the road, objected to the new bus primarily on safety grounds. The new bus route would have required traffic calming measures to be ripped up in order to fit a new bus through. This would have inevitably led to major increases in road traffic who already use the route as a rat run to avoid the Uxbridge/Old Oak Road junction in spite of existing traffic barrriers.

TfL ran a "consultation" excercise with minimal publicity and with questions such as "do you want the new bus, yes or no" which were standard questions in all other such consultations deliberately removed in favour of the question "would you use it if it was there". TfL's "consultation" unsurprisingly produced the results they wanted, but was slammed as unrepresentative and ill-informed by residents and community leaders from all political parties.

H&F Council, although initially slow to react, responded to the residents campaign which involved a petition against the bus signed by over 500 local residents by halting TfL in their tracks. A subsequent H&F led consultation, which actually asked residents whether they wanted the bus route or not, produced the accurate response that Steventon Road as a route was deeply unpopular. This route is now off the agenda.

Residents stood up for their area, and against the might of TfL, and won. But how many other communities has Transport for London, who will willingly produce misleading "consultation" excercises and disregard local views, blighted?

From the outset this campaign has been run by local people who use public transport every single day. The new alternative route is one which local residents involved in the campaign suggested to tfL personally and by writing but were ignored. TfL had to be forced to stop and think again.

Investing in public transport and adequately consulting local people are not opposites - they go hand in hand. A lesson which TfL would do well to learn. And learn fast.

NOTES

Email from H&F to residents:

From:
Bainbridge Chris

Sent:
09 January 2009 13:34:27
To:

Dear Sidonie and Chris

Thank you for your response to the Council's consultation exercise on proposed bus route 228.

We have now analysed the results of the exercise.

57% of respondents supported route 228 in principle, and over four times as many respondents preferred the Uxbridge Road/Bloemfontein Road route (Route B) over the originally proposed route via Steventon Road (Route A). We received many more objections to Route A than to Route B.

The Council will not therefore be pursuing Route A and will not undertake the highway engineering works necessary to enable buses to use Steventon Road.

London Buses will start running the service via Uxbridge Road/Bloemfontein Road from Saturday 17 January on a permanent basis.

Yours sincerely

Chris

Chris Bainbridge Head of Transport Planning Highways & Engineering Division Environment Services Department London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Town Hall Extension King Street London W6 9JU

Go shop now

2008-10-30T15:54:00.001-07:00

I visited the new Westfield shopping centre today, having seen it getting built over the last few years along with everyone else that lives in W12.

As predicted I was spoilt for choice when it came to which bus I used - I had at one end of Steventon Road the 260 and at the other the 283. Luxury - and a confirmation why we were right to fight for our street.

Enjoy the new centre - though personally I still prefer Shepherds Bush Market!

Andy Slaughter MP welcomes campaign win

2008-10-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

Local MP Andy Slaughter has welcomed TfL's forced retreat and the saving of Steventon Road. More to follow.

Shaun Bailey welcomes no bus

2008-10-22T03:08:00.000-07:00

Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for Hammersmith, has issued this press release welcoming the forced retreat of TfL. We are grateful for his support to date, but also happy that he also pledges to fight with us against any attempt to impose this unwanted and unnecessary route on us again. He says:

“I am delighted for the local residents. TfL needs to take into account the practical impact and environmental impact this bus would have had, and having also seen the proposed route first hand and the commercial vans speeding dangerously down it, I am glad that a potential death trap has been shelved for the time being. However if TfL continue to press for the route in future, I will continue to fight with the local residents and make sure this never happens!”

The H&F consultation is being distributed to residents of Steventon and Bryony Roads very soon. Vote No.

Just say no

2008-10-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

All residents on Steventon and Bryony Roads will shortly be receiving a consultation document from the council.

It will ask you whether you want the new bus, and the changes to your roads that the new bus would mean - in other words a removal of traffic calming measures.
Unlike Transport for London's fraudulent attempt to get what they want, which had the question "do you want the bus, yes or no" deliberately removed - this one will ask that simple question.

And if you vote no - the bus is history and your road is safer. Vote no.

Your victory reported

2008-10-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

Latest from the local media on your victory - congratulations - you deserve it!

VS Day - Victory for Steventon is declared!

2008-10-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

It's official. You have won! For the time being at least.

TfL have been forced to back down in the face of overwhelming local opposition and their attempt to ride roughshod over us has failed. But it only failed because you stood up to them. Congratulations. You deserve it!

The 228 bus will NOT now go down Steventon Road for the foreseeable future. Rather it will follow an alternative route, which is what we suggested all along, of Uxbridge Road, Bloemfontein Road and then South Africa Road in both directions.

This man, Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Hammersmith & Fulham, will now organise a consultation of residents along Steventon and Bryony Roads. This time the consultation will actually ask "do you want the bus" and "do you want the changes to your road" (ie removing traffic calming measures) - yes or no.

In other words this will actually be a consultation - not a sham excercise of the sort TfL use to do what they want.

Now go and enjoy your quiet road and the numerous bus routes within easy reach that already serve our area and the Westfield complex, and wait to have your views heard - this time without prejudice!

Lies, damn lies and TfL statistics

2008-09-25T22:24:00.000-07:00

Well, what a surprise. TfL is pushing the results of its "consultation" as being a resounding confirmation of why everyone wants their new bus.

No matter that they exclude the two petitions that local residents have mounted against it, both ours and that organised by residents in Ladbroke Grove, from their figures - that would get in the way of the answers they wanted.

Thankfully our local authority, Hammersmith and Fulham, have asked for a full breakdown street by street and will also take your views from the petition into account.

TfL meanwhile, appear to have accepted that the bus will not be forced down Steventon Road in time for Westfield opening, and will have to find an alternative route - such as the roads that already carry buses. Which is what we, and other sensible voices in this debate, have been calling for all along. Its not over yet - but sense appears to be prevailing for the time being at least!

Boris on the case

2008-09-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

News reaches us that London Mayor Boris Johnson has received correspondence from Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for Hammersmith and supporter of our campaign. The Mayor has repeatedly stated that TfL, which reports to him, should listen to communities.

We're grateful to Shaun, who met 35 of you at our last street meeting, for making sure that our campaign and the 500 of you who have been part of it has been heard by the man with the power to direct TfL not to simply ride roughshod over us. TfL's approach to "consultation" would suggest that's exactly what they intended.

And Councillor Nick Botterill, Hammersmith & Fulham's Cabinet Member for the Environment, who also met us recently and through H&F News announced that the Council was "reconsidering" the scheme, is meeting TfL next week.

When we have more we will bring it to you. Thanks again for your support.

What's the latest?

2008-09-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

Silence.

We know Hammersmith & Fulham are " reconsidering " the bus that noone wants or needs - what is their decision?

We will be in contact with the council in the coming days and let you know

Bus route "Reconsidered" by Council

2008-08-16T02:56:00.001-07:00

This month's edition of H&F News is encouraging.

Hammermsith & Fulham Council, who print this newspaper, are officially 'reconsidering' the scheme.

Residents met Cabinet Member for the Environment Nick Botterill and officials this week who listened carefully to our concerns. We're confident the message has gotten through. When TfL announce that their "consultation" means they are going ahead with the bus, Cllr Botterill will need to approve the tearing up of traffic calming measures and a widening of our road, already a rat run. He will now, at least, bear your voices from Steventon and the surrounding roads in mind.

So we now have TfL, through their combination of disregard for residents and a deeply flawed approach to 'consulting', out on a limb. Compared to local residents, 500 of whom signed up to this campaign, united against it. This doesn't mean they won't still try to ignore us and force the bus route through but we have at the very least stood up for our area and made our voice known. Thanks for your support.

The Council Listens

2008-08-11T16:16:00.001-07:00

On friday we meet Councillor Nicholas Botterill, the Cabinet Member for the Environment at Hammersmith & Fulham.

When TfL announce that their "consultation", which was not received by most residents we've spoken to and had the question "do you want the bus yes or no" deliberately removed, has miraculously resulted in them deciding to force the bus route down Steventon Road Cllr Botterill will be our last line of defence.

TfL will need to tear up traffic calming measures to make way for the bus that 500 people have said that they dont want or need - and Cllr Botterill will need to approve that. If he doesnt - no bus.

Look out for the forthcoming edition of H&F News which comes out on August 14th - our campaign is prominently featured. Thanks again for your support - surely we've got to be listened to in the end haven't we?

Latest press coverage

2008-08-01T11:13:00.001-07:00

A lesson in dodgy reporting from today's Shepherds Bush Gazette. Cllr Botterill has confirmed to us directly that he is misquoted in this article - he did not state that he believes the majority to be in favour of the bus route. But what's a crucial detail like that when there's a good story to be had?!

The real story is that 500 people have spoken. Now we need TfL to think again. They were prepared to ignore us little people, now the politicians are involved will they still try to ride roughshod over us?

And the last bit of news for the week-end; we held our fifth residents street meeting this evening with the conservative parliamentary candidate for Hammersmith, Shaun Bailey. He has promised to back our campaign and lobby Mayor Boris Johnson and our old friends at TfL.

Thanks again for your support.

Council Leader accepts your petition

2008-07-31T16:45:00.001-07:00

Cllr Steven Greenhalgh, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham, this evening accepted a copy of our petition at a public meeting in our local area.

Cllr Greenhalgh agreed to reflect on the strength of feeling and emphasised that the Council does not have a "preferred option" as to where this route should go.

He agreed to listen to your concerns when considering anything that Transport for London put forward.

Now we need to see a clear public committment from Cllr Greenhalgh's colleague, Cllr Nicholas Botterill, who has the power to block the route - and save our streets

Thanks for your support.

Petition hits 500

2008-07-28T05:15:00.000-07:00

500 of you have now signed the petition against an unwanted bus route being forced down Steventon Road W12.

All of a sudden the politicians are listening. Our MP, Andy Slaughter, has met us twice. The conservative candidate for the constituency Shaun Bailey has launched his own consultation which, unlike TfL's version of a "consultation" actually asks people if they want the bus or not.

But will the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham listen? This man, Councillor Nicholas Botteril, has the power to stop this unwanted route. This is because there need to be alterations made to the road which the council need to approve. Cllr Botterill must now listen to your voices and block this route.

New consultation!

2008-07-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

HAVE YOUR SAY (AGAIN!)

We've just received this encouraging reply from Shaun Bailey, the Conservative candidate for our area at the next General Election.

We're not sure how the "listening excercise" Shaun Bailey has now organised will work because the deadline for consultation responses as far as Transport for London is now closed. We wrote to Mr Bailey well before that deadline but we've only just heard back. However, the fact that he has responded and intends to listen to local residents is in stark contrast to our local ward councillors.

We need Mr Bailey to talk to this man - Councillor Nicholas Botterill at the council has the power to say No to this route. 400 voters would like very much to see that happen.

PLEASE VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION BY EMAILING HERE

From: Shaun Bailey (news@shaunbailey.co.uk)

Dear Mr Underwood,

Thank you for visiting my website and sending me your comments about the proposed bus route down your road.

A 400 strong petition is certainly a loud voice of opposition to this proposed bus route and should be listened to by Transport for London.

I intend to look at the TfL reasoning for this proposed route and also conduct my own listening exercise to local residents views about it. However, can I assure you that as a Conservative I believe decisions should be taken at the most local level that is appropriate and practical. In matters like this, the neighbourhood level is always the most appropriate.

Once I have completed the above, I will lobby Transport for London and the Mayor of London with my findings – which I fully expect from your comments, will be against the route.

Yours sincerely,

Shaun Bailey

Shaun Bailey Campaign

Hammersmith Conservatives, 4 Greyhound Road, London W6 8NX

t. 020 7385 1002 e. shaun@shaunbailey.co.uk

http://www.shaunbailey.co.uk/

TfL? we're not listening la la la

2008-07-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

Richard Shirley has still not responded to our email - I simply asked him whether he had 400 people in his mailbag that had expressed support for the bus. We have 400 who have signed a petition against it from throughout the local area. To his credit he came and met around 30 of us on the street but left us with the strong impression that his mind was made up and TfL would do what they wanted whatever we said. His decision to ignore us on this occasion simply confirms this view.

Neither Andy Slaughter our MP, nor you would have thought Shaun Bailey his challenger for the Hammersmith constituency can really afford that - and yet they have also yet to tell us whether they support us. In fairness Andy has at least met us whereas Shaun hasn't replied. Aren't the Tories supposed to be in listening mode these days?

Get off the fence

2008-07-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Memo to local MP and wannabe MPs - time to get off the fence. Are you for or against us? 400 people have now signed our petition opposing the bus being forced down Steventon Road, and thats a lot of voters in Wormholt & White City Ward.

Andy Slaughter and Shaun Bailey want our 400 votes - but do they support our campaign? Neither are so far prepared to say.

400 of us, how many of them?

2008-07-18T02:17:00.000-07:00

This is an email I have just sent to London Buses. I have made this email public, and I will also make the reply available too. Of course, if London Buses choose not to reply then this will also be obvious to people as well...

** Update: 21st July - Still no reply to the email...

To: Richard Shirley, London Buses, Transport for London

Richard

Hope you are well

I heard this morning that our petition has now reached 400 signatures against the bus. Please could you confirm how many people have written to in favour of the bus on Steventon Road?

Please note I would like to share your reply with residents, and have therefore published this email on our website.

Many thanks

Chris

Sign up against the bus!

2008-07-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

Hello If you haven't signed our petitition there is still time, nearly 200 of you already have.

Thanks for your support

You can sign up online by simply clicking on "comments" below and adding a comment just consisting of your name and the name of the road you live on.

Around 30 residents of Steventon, Sedgeford and Bryony Roads W12 met Richard Shirley from London Buses, and Chris Bainbridge from the Council this evening. I think its fair to say that our salvation lies with the Council overruling this move.

Transport for London appear intent on forcing the route through, so its down to us to persuade the Council to listen to residents.

We will be writing on your behalf to the Cabinet Member for the Environment Councillor Nicholas Botterill and requesting a meeting. We'll also be submitting your names on our petition to the Council

Its worth bearing in mind that our votes count - we live in a knife edge parliamentary constituency. 200 votes will decide whether we keep our existing Labour MP Andy Slaughter or his Conservative challenger Shaun Bailey. The General Election is less than 2 years away.

We'll also ask their views and share them with you too - and remind you of them closer to election day... Thanks again

Chris

underwoodchris1@hotmail.com

Residents (and Westfield) say no to bus route

2008-07-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

Westfield have revealed that they too are not in favour of the bus route and have released the following statement to our campaign:

"It is not correct to say that Westfield requested the 228 route. We in fact were providing funding for a hoppa bus service which was to run between the White City Estate and the Edward Woods Estate. The Council approached London buses regarding replacing the hoppa bus with routes 228 and 316, and gained in principle agreement from London Buses before even informing Westfield."

Jenny Cowan Westfield London Community Relations Manager

Which part of "No" do our local councillors or Transport for London not understand? And will the Council listen?

Welcome

2008-06-19T05:57:00.001-07:00

Hello

Welcome to the campaign to stop the proposed bus route being forced through Steventon Road London W12. The new bus route will also add more traffic to Bryony and surrounding Roads too.

This website is run by those of us who live on Steventon and the surrounding roads who are committed to fighting this unnecessary and unwanted development, which will make our already congested road experience heavier, noisier and faster traffic.

We see drivers make a mockery of the alleged 20 mph speed limit every day as it is.

Over the coming days we'll be bringing you news about the campaign and information on how you can play a part. Thanks in advance for your help.

You can contact us by emailing underwoodchris1@hotmail.com

Chris

150 signatures and counting

2008-06-19T05:22:00.000-07:00

Despite our Councillor's being in favour of forcing the bus route through, we are on the way to signing up 200 of you in opposition to the scheme.

Thanks for your support.

Local councillors support bus route

2008-06-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact that we have all yet to be consulted on our views, our local councillors have already decided that they are in favour of this new bus route. So no consultation there then.

Councillor Colin Aherne has sent me the email below, and speaks also on behalf of Councillor Sally Powell and Councillor Jean Campbell (All Labour)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Colin Thanks for that - I will share your views in full with residents.

I don't think we'll agree on the substantive issues, and as I say a principle concern now emerging not just from our road but those of surrounding ones is of the speed and heavy nature of the traffic already on it which will likely increase, in addition to not being delighted at the prospect of lots of people congregating at a bus stop right outside your front door - and at the last count over 50 people have signed our petition from Steventon, Bryony and the surrounding roads expressing similar concerns.

We are in contact with officials at the transport department of the council and TfL and I believe a fellow resident is organising a public meeting which should take place in the next couple of weeks. I will put details on our website when confirmed. All the best and thanks again - Chris

Subject: RE: Steventon Road Bus route campaignDate: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:01:43 +0100From: colin.aherne@lbhf.gov.ukTo: underwoodchris1@hotmail.com; sally.powell@lbhf.gov.uk; Jean.Campbell@lbhf.gov.uk
.ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P
{padding:0px;}
.ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage
{font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;}
Hi Chris,

Just to confirm that I am happy for you to let people know that I am in support of the new bus route. I am not the kind of person who makes decisions in secret behind closed doors and am always prepared to justify my my views in public.

Just to put your mind at rest the one way system is definitely going to remain. The only small change will be to the corner at that point to make it easier for the bus to turn into it. If you look at the map on the consultation leaflet it shows the bus coming into our ward via the one way system at the corner of Old Oak Road/Steventon Road and then on its return journey it turns right at South Africa Road into Blomfontein Road then left onto the Westway.

It just shows how things change, for many of the people in that area who now want to keep the one way system gave me a really hard time when I put it in.

I do not accept your view that there are adequate bus routes in the area, indeed it is only the 283 that even touches it.

This new bus will be a great service for local people as not only will it take them directly into the new Westfield shopping centre, it will also be very convenient for people to get to the new Shepherds Bush Library which is moving onto the Westfield site to replace the present one in the Uxbridge Road.

With best wishes,

Colin
-----Original Message-----From: Chris Underwood [mailto:underwoodchris1@hotmail.com] Sent: 16 June 2008 16:16To: Powell Sally COUNCILLOR; Aherne Colin COUNCILLOR; Campbell Jean COUNCILLORSubject: RE: Steventon Road Bus route campaign

Thanks Colin and Sally for the quick response. I promised that I wouldn't make those comments public so I won't, but if we are asked by residents what your position is are you happy for me to reproduce what you have written? Otherwise I won't.

I should say that since my email to you the majority of petition signatories from Steventon Road and some of the surrounding ones as well that we collected that afternoon have also expressed concerns about the impact this will have on the speed of traffic as well, the view being that the buses will add both to the level, noise and speed of the vehicles moving through the road.

This is because I'm told that the council proposes to remove the existing traffic calming measure which as you say makes the entrance to Steventon Road one way at the moment. As it is the 20MPH limit is rarely observed and I have already seen one car accident which occurred as a result of speed in my short time living on the road. A motorcyclist was knocked off his bike by a speeding car which then drove away 2 years ago.

We believe there are more than sufficient existing routes both on Uxbridge Road and the surrounding routes already running through the area. However - even though we disagree many thanks again for your quick response and all the best Chris

Subject: RE: Steventon Road Bus route campaignDate: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:06:20 +0100From: sally.powell@lbhf.gov.ukTo: underwoodchris1@hotmail.com; colin.aherne@lbhf.gov.uk; Jean.Campbell@lbhf.gov.uk
.ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P
{padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;}
.ExternalClass BODY.EC_hmmessage
{font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;}
I concur with Councillor Aherne
From: Chris Underwood [mailto:underwoodchris1@hotmail.com] Sent: 14 June 2008 17:08To: Aherne Colin COUNCILLOR; Campbell Jean COUNCILLOR; Powell Sally COUNCILLORSubject: Steventon Road Bus route campaign

Hello Colin, Jean & Sally

I thought I would make contact because you represent our ward and you may therefore have heard that TfL are proposing to put a bus route through Steventon Road. They've said they are consulting but they've already started measuring up the road which suggests the element of consultation is less than genuine

A number of residents are organising a campaign against this for the reasons have listed below in my own submission to TfL. We are likely to be organising a public meeting and involving the local media. Could I ask whether the local Labour party or you as individual cllrs have views on this proposed route please?

I won't make any response public at any stage but if we have no response at all we will simply say that we were unable to get a response.

At some point I'd advise that whatever your views are you'll want to be ready to make them public in response to our campaign Hope all is well with you Chris Underwood

Consultation submission:

We do not in any way want this bus route on our street. A bus stop, located outside or near our house would introduce increased levels of litter, noise and crowds of young people hanging around.

We have two young children pre school age and worry about the impact this bus stop will have on them due to the above factors. I am also aware that other residents on this road have expressed similar views.

Will you therefore confirm the following:

- what compensation will be offered if a bus stop is sited outside our home, thereby reducing its commercial value

- what Disability Impact Assessment will be carried out which you are obliged to do under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) as several residents of this road are disabled.

How for example will they get their wheelchairs past a crowd of people waiting at a bus stop.-

How, specifically, will you be acting on the views you gain throughout the course of this consultation and how will you keep a record of decisions made in respect of the views put to you. (I will submit a Freedom of Information Act request if this point is not answered satisfactorily)

- How will LBHF mitigate the noise impact of introducing bus stops on Steventon Road. Will, for example, the environment agency be monitoring the noise made by those using these facillities late at night - the bus route does not stop running until nearly 1am