Consultation on proposed changes to bus route N13 and new night bus N113 Consultation Report May 2012 Contents Section Page 1 Introduction 3 2 The consultation 3 3 Responses from members of the public 5 4 Responses from statutory bodies and other 7 stakeholders Appendices A Copy of the consultation leaflet 9 B Leaflet distribution area 10 C List of stakeholders consulted 11 2 1 Introduction During Transport for London’s regular review of the bus network, we received requests for a night service on route 113. We are now proposing the introduction of a new route N113 which would combine with the existing N13 service between Central London and Fortune Green. It would continue via existing day route 113, to provide a new night service for the Hendon Way and Watford Way between Fortune Green, Brent Cross and Edgware. 2 The consultation New route N113 The new N113 service would run every 30 minutes on all nights between Trafalgar Square and Edgware Bus Station. It would run along the current 113 routing serving Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Swiss Cottage, Fortune Green, Hendon Way and Watford Way to Edgware Bus Station. In Central London buses would stand in Great Scotland Yard. Existing route N13 Route N13 currently runs between Aldwych and North Finchley every 15 minutes Sunday to Thursday nights and every 10 minutes on Friday and Saturday nights. As the proposed route N113 would run along the same roads as the N13 between Trafalgar Square and Fortune Green, we proposed reducing the weeknight frequency of the N13 to every 30 minutes and weekend night frequency to every 15 minutes. On the section of route between Trafalgar Square and Fortune Green, where both routes will run, the combined service will provide sufficient capacity. North of Fortune Green the revised frequency better matches the number of passengers using that section of route N13, and will be sufficient for the estimated demand for new route N113. Night services to and from Golders Green on routes 83, 102 and N5, and North Finchley on routes 134 and N20 would continue unchanged. 2.1 Consultation objectives Transport for London (TfL) has undertaken a consultation with those most affected, including users of the 113 & N13, and interested stakeholders (local authorities, councillors and other elected representatives). The objectives of the consultation were: • To give stakeholders and the public easily-understandable information about the proposals and allow them to respond • To understand the level of support for or opposition to the change • To understand any issues that might affect the proposal of which we were not previously aware • To understand concerns and objections • To allow respondents to make suggestions. 3 2.2 Who we consulted The public consultation sought the views of people who live near to the proposed route, current users of the service and other potential users. We also consulted stakeholders including the affected councils, traffic police, London TravelWatch, Members of Parliament, London Assembly Members and local interest groups. A list of the stakeholders we consulted is shown in Appendix C and a summary of their responses is given in Section 4. 2.3 Consultation material, distribution and publicity • We emailed 42,000 users of routes N13 and 113 to explain our proposals. The map detailing proposals is shown in Appendix A. The email was also sent to stakeholders. • We asked five specific questions and provided the opportunity for additional comments and suggestions as part of the response. • We invited people to respond through TfL’s online consultation tool (link provided in consultation letter), or by emailing [email protected] • Posters were placed at bus stops/shelters along the route where space permitted. • Information was available on the TfL website allowing people to respond using an online questionnaire. 2.4 Meetings and site visits (if appropriate) • No meetings were undertaken for this consultation, and site visits and route tests were not necessary on this occasion as all additional roads to be served are already served by day route 113. 4 3 Responses from members of the public We received a total of 912 replies to the consultation. The majority of the responses, 75%, expressed overall support for the scheme. Q1. Which of the following routes do you use most often? Of the 912 replies 557 use route 113, 102 use route 13, 168 route N13 and 79 neither. 6 people did not answer the question. 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Route 13 Route 113 Route N13 None No Answer Number of responses 162 557 168 79 6 Total 972* *more than one response was allowed. Q 2: How often do you use this route (113, 13 or N13)? Of the 912 replies, 297 advised they use either route 113, 13 or N13 once a week, 286 use one of these routes nightly, 68 once a month, 153 occasionally and 108 people did not answer. 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Nightly Once a week Once a month Occasionally No answer Number of responses 286 297 68 153 108 Total 912 5 Q3: What do you use this route for? Of the 912 responses, 282 advised they used the route(s) for work, 53 for school, 387 for leisure, 93 other and 97 did not answer. 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 No Work School Leisure Other* Answer Number of reponses 282 53 387 93 97 Total 912 *Respondents specified “other” uses for the route were listed as, shopping, medical trips, family visits and a mixture of the above answers. Q4: Do you support the proposed new bus route N113 and changes to route N13? Of the 912 replies, 682 supported the proposed changes, 157 did not, 67 people were not sure and 6 did not answer. 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Yes No Not Sure Blank Number of responses 682 157 67 6 Total 912 From the data collected 157 respondents were generally opposed to the proposals. Of this 157 the majority stated they used the service between Central London and Golders Green or Central London and Finchley. 6 4 Responses from statutory bodies and other stakeholders Reponses were received from twelve stakeholders, all responses from stakeholders were generally in favour of the proposal and this figure represents 1.4% of total responses received. A summary of comments received is detailed below: London TravelWatch Welcomed the proposals. Best Western Palm Hotel Ltd, 64-76 Hendon Way In my professional opinion a night bus route of N113 would have a MASSIVE and positive impact Whitefield Residents Association (Brent Cross) We feel it a sensible route to serve the needs of people and cannot see there would be any hardship in fact it would be an improvement. Friends of Capital Transport Campaign Like the idea in principle but the reduced frequency at weekends is a serious drawback. London School of Economics & Political Science We support this if the schedules of the two routes are well-coordinated. At the moment, it is very helpful to have a night service which runs every 10-15 minutes. If under the new plans both buses tend to arrive at the same time, it would mean a less frequent service. The new arrangement must be very carefully planned and implemented. Jewish Care No comments received Middlesex University (The Burroughs, Hendon) Most of our students stay near Middlesex University. If you provide N113 it would help most of the students. West Hampstead Amenity & Transport Group The reduced frequency of the N13 is regretted but this could be largely ameliorated if the running of the new N113 is coordinated so that there is a 15 minute service from Trafalgar Square to Finchley Road - Fortune Green on Sunday to Thursday. City of Westminster No comments received. 7 London Borough of Camden No comments received. London Borough of Barnet No comments received. 8 Appendix A – Copy of the consultation leaflet 9 Appendix B – Email distribution area Members of the public were contacted selected from TfL’s Oyster database based on usage of the N13 and 113 routes. In total 42,000 users of these routes were contacted. 10 Appendix C – List of stakeholders consulted Elected Members MPs Karen Buck MP Westminster North Frank Dobson MP Holborn & St Pancras Mike Freer MP Finchley & Golders Green Matthew Offord MP Hendon Mark Field MP Cities of London & Westminster Councillors Cllr Louise Hyams St James Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Tim Mitchell St James Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Cameron Thomson St James Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Glenys Roberts West End Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Frixos Tombolis West End Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Jonathan Glanz West End Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Harvey Marshall Marylebone High Street Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Ian Rowley Marylebone High Street Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Edward Baxter Marylebone High Street Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Audrey Lewis Bryanston and Dorset Square Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Sheila D’Souza Bryanston & Dorset Square Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Richard Beddoe Bryanston & Dorset Square Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Daniel Astaire Regents Park Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Gwyneth Hampson Regents Park Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Robert Rigby Regents Park Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Cyril Nemeth Abbey Road Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Judith Warner Abbey Road Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Lindsey Hall Abbey Road Ward – Westminster City Council Cllr Roger Freeman Swiss Cottage Ward – LB Camden Cllr Andrew Marshall Swiss Cottage Ward – LB Camden Cllr Don Williams Swiss Cottage Ward – LB Camden Cllr Andrew Mennear