An early start on Wednesday – following our Hither Green Rail Survey last year, we decided the time had come to ask rail users at Lee what they think of their service.   I braved the mist with Paul and also Cllr Paul Webbewood, who represents Middle Park & Sutlcliffe, the Greenwich Council ward which adjoins Lee Green.   Lots of Paul’s constituents use Lee station, too.

Once again, commuters were keen to give us their views, and we’ve had over 100 surveys back already, which is great.   I’ll reply to everyone who provided a name and address and let you know how we’re taking up your concerns.   Overcrowding is clearly a big issue on the Sidcup line, and I’ve already got a question in to our next meeting with TFL and SouthEastern about this.

If you’d like to give us your views, it’s not too late – contact me if you’d like a copy of the survey.

I’ve recently been helping a consituent who was concerned about rubbish on the railway embankment opposite the houses on the stretch of Fernbrook Road between Staplehurst and Fernbrook Crescent.

Network Rail tell me they cleared the embankment yesterday, and have provided me with some useful numbers which you can use to report issues like this:

You can call Network Rail  24/7 on 08457 114 141.  The helpdesk should give you a reference number which can then be quoted if you need an update.   Apparently all complaints directed through this route are monitored on progress by Network Rail, so they reckon this is the quickest way to get through to the correct dept.   However, it doesn’t include stations which are the responsibility of the train operating company – in our case, SouthEastern.

There’s also the British Transport Police number, which you can use to report railway crime on 0800 405040 .

Of course, you can always contact us too!

Then Paul has news for you.   

Hope to see you at the meeting next Tuesday!  

Details: Tuesday February 12th, from 7pm in the Parish Room of the Good Shepherd Church in Handen Road

As a local Councillor, I am invited to regular meetings with Transport for London and local train and bus operators.   The next meeting’s due on the 11th December.   Does anyone have any issues they’d like me to raise?

To give you some ideas, questions could be on…

• Bus routes
• Bus stops and shelters
• Train services/DLR
• Stations
• Anything else TFL related!

I’m planning to ask a few questions as a result of our Hither Green Rail Survey

The deadline for me to submit questions is next Thursday, so please do let me have them by Wednesday 21st, so I can collate them.  Contact details for me here.

I was out and about early this morning, handing out rail surveys at Hither Green Station, along with Paul and Lib Dem Councillor colleagues from Lewisham Central and Whitefoot wards.

We had a great response – commuters were really keen to take a survey and give us their views.  In fact, we distributed over 1,500 surveys in under 2 hours, making the early start well worth it!

I had time for a quick coffee in You Don’t Bring Me Flowers before jumping on a train myself for a meeting in town (thankfully, mine was on time!)