Proposed changes to routes 27, 440, E10 and H91 in Gunnersbury and Chiswick Summary of responses to consultation March 2010 Proposed changes to routes 27, 440, E10 and H91 in Gunnersbury and Chiswick Summary of responses to consultation Contents Page Introduction 3 Executive summary of results 4 Background 5-7 About the bus service proposals 5 About the consultation 6 Analysis 8-21 Public responses 8-18 Method of response 9 Respondents’ current and projected ridership 9 Route 27 proposal and responses 10 Route E10 proposal and responses 12 Route H91 proposal and responses 15 Route 440 proposal and responses 17 Stakeholder responses 19 Appendices 22-29 Appendix 1: Street distribution list 22 Appendix 2: Consultation leaflet 24 Appendix 3: Letter to Gunnersbury Drive households 28 Consultation report: proposed changes to routes 27, 440, E10 and H91 2 Introduction In summer 2008, Transport for London (TfL) consulted stakeholders1 and the public on proposals to change route H91 and extend routes 27, 440 and E10. This report explains the background to the proposals, how the consultation was conducted and summarises the responses. On-going liaison and engagement with affected councils and other key organisations informed the development of the proposals. This included borough liaison meetings, site visits, evaluation of public requests and consideration of planning decisions made by local councils. Based on this information, TfL prepared proposals and opened them to stakeholder and wider public consultation over an eight week period from 20 June until 15 August 2008. The consultation was conducted and advertised using a local leaflet distribution, website updates, emails, a local meeting and a press release. The consultation asked people: Do you currently use any of these routes? Would the changes make you more or less likely to use the routes? Do you support the proposed changes to these routes? Why? Do you have any other comments or suggestions in relation to the proposed bus service changes? Eight stakeholder and 555 public responses were received, reflecting a public response rate of 7.7 per cent (555 responses from 7189 leaflets). Those responses, the eight stakeholder responses and additional comments from the London Borough of Hounslow are summarised in this report. TfL considered the consultation results alongside other operational, cost and transport planning factors to inform decision making about whether to go ahead with the services as proposed, or to alter or abandon the proposals. We are reporting our final decision to respondents who provided contact details. 1 Organisations such as councils, transport user groups, community, business and health representatives. Consultation report: proposed changes to routes 27, 440, E10 and H91 3 Executive summary of results Public consultation results 59 per cent of respondents said that overall, the proposed changes would make them more likely to use the routes. Only 8 per cent said they would be less likely to use the routes (24% answered ‘about the same’ and 8% left blank). Route 27 Respondents were broadly in favour with 70 per cent supporting the proposal. Positive comments focused on new links and increased service to west Chiswick. Negative comments focused on the loss of the direct link to Heathfield Terrace and concerns about increased traffic on Chiswick High Road. Some respondents asked if the extended route could continue along Chiswick High Road, Chiswick Roundabout and Gunnersbury Avenue to enter Chiswick Office Park from Bollo Lane. There is currently no service on Gunnersbury Avenue. Route E10 Respondents were broadly in favour with 74 per cent supporting the proposal. The primary reason for support was the new and convenient links from Chiswick to Ealing. Support was not unconditional, with respondents noting several operational challenges to introducing and running a reliable service. Respondents focused on the need to serve the roads proposed and the perceived unsuitability of the roads. Respondents also asked that the extension go further, to reach into Chiswick High Road. Route H91 58 per cent of respondents were in favour of the proposals. Few supporters gave detailed reasons but mentioned preferring to see a faster service along the High Road and to see the bus removed from the ‘unsuitable’ roads it currently uses. Those against objected strongly to the loss of direct links from Wellesley Road to Hounslow and/or Hammersmith, particularly for older people. Route 440 56 per cent of respondents were in favour of the scheme. Few supporters gave detailed reasons but mentioned the usefulness of the Power Road terminus for Gunnersbury Park Estate residents, the new links for Acton passengers, and the value of another service to west Chiswick. Those against the proposal focused on the relative benefits of the H91, 440 and 391 serving Wellesley Road (with 440 perceived as least useful), and the 440 route becoming too long, convoluted and potentially unreliable. Stakeholder results Stakeholders were broadly supportive but requested that alternative routes be considered for extension, or routeings and termini be altered. Consultation report: proposed changes to routes 27, 440, E10 and H91 4 Background About the bus service proposals The London bus network is under constant review to make sure it meets changing public requirements. The schemes presented in this consultation were developed to achieve several aspirations, including: To provide more accessible links between communities To provide access to opportunities such as employment, especially in the new Chiswick Office Park development To encourage people to use public transport instead of private cars, by making the public transport offering more convenient and attractive To allow faster bus journeys around Turnham Green To offer a bus service to residents around the northern section of Gunnersbury Avenue and Bollo Lane To offer more direct links between the Great West Road, Gunnersbury station and Turnham Green. The changes to routes 27 and E10 are designed, in part, to serve the Chiswick Office Park development and will be initially be supported with funding obtained by the London Boroughs of Hounslow and Ealing as part of the planning process. The specific proposal presented for each route is outlined in the analysis of public responses alongside public consultation responses (pp. 11-20). Turnham Green Traffic and Transport Scheme The London Borough of Hounslow developed and conducted a public consultation on their ‘Turnham Green Traffic and Transport Scheme’, around the same time as the TfL consultation. The council’s scheme related to road layout and traffic flow changes, and included references to corresponding bus route changes being considered by TfL. The two consultations are independent but had been discussed and were seen to be complementary, with the bus route proposals still being feasible if the London Borough of Hounslow’s proposed traffic management changes went ahead. TfL and the London Borough of Hounslow have discussed the relevant common issues arising from the consultation responses. TfL has taken into account these issues in its overall considerations. Consultation report: proposed changes to routes 27, 440, E10 and H91 5 About the consultation The public and stakeholder consultation ran over an eight-week period between 20 June and 15 August 2008. It was designed to enable TfL to understand local views about the service proposals before making a decision about whether to proceed, or to reconsider alternative options. This consultation was in addition to stakeholder consultation undertaken as part of the regular programme associated with bus service tendering. The consultation objectives were: To give stakeholders and the public enough information about the scheme to allow them to give informed responses (using varied techniques) To gauge the level of support for altered routing To understand concerns and objections To identify issues not already thought of To allow stakeholders and public to influence our final decision about routeing and stops Consultation audience The consultation audience included local residents and businesses in a defined geographic area (see roads list in appendix 1) along with: Assembly members Council representatives Local user groups School travel advisors Local media Consultation leaflet A consultation leaflet was created to explain the proposals and was distributed to stakeholders and 7189 addresses in and around the areas which would be served by the proposed bus routes. Leaflets were sent using first class post. A copy of this leaflet is shown as appendix 2. People could respond using a variety of methods: prepaid leaflet reply slip, letter, telephone, textphone, email or web. Meetings & site visits TfL staff met with the Sutton Lane North Residents Action Group to discuss their views. Staff also presented to resident businesses and estate management personnel at Chiswick Office Park. This meeting was organised because a large number of staff at the site would be affected by the changes (as much as neighbouring residents) but would not receive leaflets. We invited representatives of London Underground and Overground to co-present and deliver a holistic picture of transport developments in the area. Attendees brought questions on behalf of their businesses and reported back to their staff. Consultation materials were shared using Chiswick Office Park Estate Management’s internal communication channels. Consultation report: proposed changes to routes 27,