New Bus Route Arrives in W12
TfL re-route 228 after local campaign
The new 228 bus route between Central Middlesex Hospital and Maida Hill, via White City and Shepherd’s Bush, will start running from this Saturday (17 January 2009).
Transport for London (TfL) originally planned to run the 228 via residential streets in W12, such as Steventon Road and Bryony Road, but was forced to alter the route in the face of strong local objections.
Following two consultations – one by TfL and one by the Council - TfL agreed to re-route the bus along Uxbridge Road and Bloemfontein Road instead.
Campaigner Chris Underwood says getting the bus re-routed has been a real victory: "TfL were completely incapable and had no interest in listening to local people where what they had to say did not accord with what TfL wanted. That surely has got to change. And also that it was only because a) we knew how to bring the local politicians on board and b) had two people in particular that were prepared to devote large amounts of their spare time going from door-door collecting petition signatories that we got it stopped - how many other communities don't have either, and therefore get trampled on?" he said.
Residents objected to the 228 running through their neighbourhood, mainly for safety reasons and because it would have resulted in the removal of traffic-calming measures from their streets. More than 500 people signed a petition against the original routing.
According to H&F's Head of Transport Planning, Chris Bainbridge, the Council's consultation showed that: “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.”
Nicholas Botterill, Deputy Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, said the original route had now been buried: “We consulted with residents on the new route and the majority of them are in favour of it as it stands. We will not be asking TfL to review the route and are glad that they have listened to what people want: this route, using main roads, is far more appropriate than London Buses’ original plan to direct the bus along residential streets.”
John Barry, Head of Network Development at London Buses, said the new route would link various parts of west London together: “Route 228 will improve access to schools, hospitals, and places of work in west London and will bring the bus service closer to local residents.”
Route 228 will run between Park Royal (Central Middlesex Hospital) and Maida Hill (Chippenham Road) via Acton Lane, Station Road, Old Oak Lane, Old Oak Common Lane, Old Oak Road, Uxbridge Road, Bloemfontein Road, South Africa Road, Wood Lane, Ariel Way, White City Bus Station, Ariel Way, White City Link Road, Shepherd’s Bush Interchange, Uxbridge Road, Holland Park Roundabout, Holland Park Avenue, Ladbroke Grove, Canal Way, Ladbroke Grove, Harrow Road and Elgin Avenue
Single-deck buses will operate on route 228, running about every 12 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes during the evenings and on Sundays.
15 January 2009
