Major bus routes no longer stop outside West 12 shopping centre
Local bus passengers say they are not at all happy about the re-routing of buses around Shepherd’s Bush Green, particularly as several routes no longer stop outside the West 12 shopping centre.
Major routes, such as the 207, 237, 260 and 607, no longer stop on the southern side of the Green meaning that those shopping in Morrison’s now have to cross the road into the Southern Interchange to catch their bus.
Transport for London say the new road layout is the best way of keeping the traffic moving:“It is a compromise between keeping traffic flowing and what’s best for bus passengers,” said a TfL spokesman.
TfL say they looked at the possibility of buses leaving the Southern Interchange, turning left and going around the Holland Park roundabout to enable them to stop easily outside the West 12 centre, but say that would have clogged up the roundabout and caused a lot of pollution.
But one angry resident said her usual bus stop outside the West 12 centre had disappeared overnight and carrying her heavy shopping across the road to the Southern Interchange was no easy task. “It has taken the transport links away from the West 12,” said the resident, who declined to give her name. “Why do it now just because Westfield is open? I think it is just an excuse about clogging up the roundabout. Why should we become the underdogs because we’re shopping at Argos and Morrison’s?” she said.
TfL say many factors had to be taken into consideration when redesigning the new layout: “We did look at the impact on passengers. It would have given a longer journey for people who get on at the Central line station. Going round the roundabout would have added at least 10 minutes to their journey. I’m sorry it isn’t as convenient as before but there is a logical reason for it,” the spokesman said.
The manager of the West 12 shopping centre, Jason King, said several customers had complained that their bus stop had disappeared: “We’ve seen fewer people alighting and fewer queuing outside those stops,” he said. “We’re still trading well but we’ve seen a difference. I’d like to see the 207 reinstated, as the N207 (night bus) still stops there. I’ve spoken toTfL about it but have had no response yet. I’m not convinced they can’t stop there.”
In the light of residents’ complaints, we asked TfL if they were considering reinstating some of the routes. We received no reply from them.
Yasmine Estaphanos
14 December 2008