From 2006 to 2010, I was a councillor for Lee Green ward in the London Borough of Lewisham. During that time, I blogged regularly and in 2009 I won the Tim Garden Award for the Best Blog by a Liberal Democrat Holding Public Office. My blog posts from my term of office are archived here in case they prove of use to former constituents, or to those who share my annoyance with faulty street furniture
Residents in Manor Park will soon be consulted by TfL (Transport for London) on possible changes to the Hail and Ride sections of the 273 bus route which runs from Lewisham, Tesco – Hither Green – Lee – Grove Park – Chislehurst – Petts Wood.
From TfL’s consultation letter:
This route operates on a Hail and Ride basis in Manor Park, Staplehurst Road, Fernbrook Road and Southbrook Road. Following discussions with LB Lewisham and in conjunction with the proposed introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), we propose to introduce fixed bus stops in these roads. Stops have been identified following a survey arranged with TfL, the bus operator and the Council. The Police were also invited to attend and will receive this consultation letter.
Details of the proposed stopping points on Manor Park are:
Towards Petts Wood:
- outside Alamo Car Rental building.
- outside no: 37
- opposite no: 70
Towards Lewisham:
- outside nos: 84/86
- at entrance to Manor Park (the actual public park!).
- opposite the Alamo Car Rental building.
Subject to the consultation, TFL propose to implement fixed stops as detailed above. At this stage there are no proposals for shelters on Manor Park.
Please let us have your comments – and of you live on Manor Park, don’t forget to respond to TFL yourself too – a good response rate increases the chances of TFL listening to residents.
Nice! the first I knew about this was when I woke this morning to find workmen marking out the road outside my house (37)
I’am am not a happy man! (Nor are most of my neighbours) not only have we lost 4 parking spaces we will now have busses stopping drictly outside our house and all the noise and rubbish that go with it!
There has been no consultation from tfl whatsoever
I want this removed for outside my home!!!!
and the stop outside the park is a disaster waiting to happen! totally out of order!
Fully agree with you Colin. I managed to stop them though when they started marking out outside my house this morning – 67, Southbrook Rd. Its not even on the list but the workman said they had a work order for it!
This is the reply I’ve had today from TFL when protesting about the bus stop 30 feet from my bedrood window
Dear Mr Taylor
Thank you for your email regarding the decision to install a bus stop outside your property at 37a Manor Park, Lewisham. I am sorry that you feel this bus stop will be an inconvenience to you and I understand that you are concerned about the potential for anti-social activity by members of the public waiting for the bus.
London Buses has legal powers to place bus stops where we feel they will be of most benefit to our passengers. Before locating a stop and shelter, we consult with the local council, the highway authority and/or the Police to ensure that the site is suitable. In the case of this stop the location is deemed to be both suitable and necessary, and is being installed as part of the conversion of route 273 to a service operating from fixed stops, in place of the current “hail and ride” service.
The move to introduce fixed stops on this route will enable buses to serve customers more reliably by ensure that buses have a specific area to pull into when stopping. Whilst I understand that you are upset that the installation of stops on the route will reduce the number of parking spaces immediately available to residents, we believe that the changes will improve traffic flow and ease congestion.
London Buses engaged with London Borough of Lewisham and other interested parties regarding the proposals last year, and the locatons were agreed upon. I am sorry that you were unaware of the plans to install a bus stop at this location, however, the change was widely publicised and letters were sent to all residents directly affected by the proposal in March and April of this year.
To respond to your concern regarding anti-social behaviour at the stop; I am obliged to point out that if you witness anti-social behaviour at a bus stop, you should report it to the Police and the relevant borough. I am sure that you appreciate that London Buses cannot be held accountable for the actions of members of the public.
I trust that this has addressed your concerns in a timely manner, and I would like to assure you that we do take the location of our stops and shelters very seriously. If any piece of TfL equipment or infrastructure is found to be having a detrimental or negative effect on the surrounding area we will always take appropriate measures to address the situation, however, it is believed that in this case the proposed position of the bus stop is suitable.
Thank you once again for your email. I hope that you feel that this response has addressed these matters in a sufficient way, although I understand that you may not be happy with the outcome.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.
Yours sincerely
Duncan Fallon
Customer Services
He’s right with one comment I’m not happy! I had about 8-10 people sitting outside my house last week talking loudly and keeping me awake after 11pm and I have to be up for work at 4.30am
Update!!!
for some reason the offending bus stop has now been blacked out and the residents parking bay has been re-instated!
funny ole world init?
watch this space!!!!!!!