Consultation on possible changes to bus route 491

Consultation Report

December 2011

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 8 stakeholders

Appendices A Copy of the consultation leaflet 9 B Leaflet distribution area 13 C List of stakeholders consulted 14

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1 Introduction

Transport for London recently consulted stakeholders and the public on a proposal to re- route bus route 491 along Solar Way instead of Mollison Avenue.

This report explains the background to the scheme and consultation and summarises the responses.

A proposal was developed for bus route 491 to speed up journey times for passengers travelling through the Solar Way area and to also simplify the route so that buses travelling in both directions would not serve the same bus stop in Solar Way. It was proposed to re-route the service along Solar Way instead of Mollison Avenue, and locate two new sets of bus stops, one set in Innova Way and one set along Solar Way. This would mean that the bus would no longer serve the bus stop outside the Oasis Academy.

TfL will now consider these consultation results alongside other operational, costs and transport planning factors. We will discuss the results with LB Enfield. We expect to make a decision about whether to go ahead in summer 2011 after which we will let everyone who responded to the consultation know the outcome.

2 The consultation

The consultation was designed to enable TfL to understand local opinion about the proposed new routeing.

The potential outcomes of the consultation are:

We decide the consultation raises no issues that should prevent us from proceeding with the scheme as originally planned. We modify the scheme in response to issues raised in consultation. We abandon the scheme as a result of issues raised in the consultation.

2.1 Consultation objectives

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 or opposition for the change to route 491. 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.

2.2 Who we consulted

The public consultation intended to seek the views of people who live near to the proposed route, current users of the service and other potential users. We also consulted

3 stakeholders including the affected Councils, Metropolitan Police, London TravelWatch, Members of Parliament, 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 produced a letter and map explaining our proposals and distributed this to around 140 local businesses in Electric Avenue, Kinetic Crescent, Innova Way, Magnetic Crescent, Solar Way, Tysoe Avenue and Velocity Way. A copy of this material is shown in Appendix A and a map of the distribution area can be found in Appendix B. The letter was emailed to stakeholders.

We asked four specific questions and gave one free text response area.

1. Do you currently use the 491 bus?

2. Do you agree with the proposals?

3. Will the proposals make your journey quicker or longer?

4. Will the proposal change travel patterns?

5. Please let us have any further comments regarding the proposals.

We invited people to respond by using an attached pre-paid reply slip, by emailing [email protected], by using the TfL website or by post.

The same information was also available on the TfL website. People could respond using the online questionnaire form, by email or by using the methods listed above.

2.4 Meetings and site visits

A route test was held on 11 January 2011, attended by Enfield Council, Metropolitan Police, Arriva London bus company and TfL representatives to consider the proposed re-routeing of route 491 along Solar Way instead of Mollison Avenue and to identify suitable locations for two new sets of bus stops, one set in Innova Way and one set along Solar Way. At the route test both the proposed re-routeing and potential bus stop locations were found to be suitable.

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3 Responses from members of the public

There were a total of 37 responses received, all were web replies. Not all respondents chose to answer all of the questions. The majority of responses were received from staff at the Oasis Academy (14) and parents of students that attend the Academy (4). Responses are summarised below; stakeholder response are summarised in section 4.

3.1 Public consultation results

Q1. Do you currently use the 491 bus?

Most respondents currently use the 491.

Q2. Do you agree with the proposals?

Most respondents were not in favour with the proposals.

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Q3. Will the proposals make you journey quicker or longer?

Most respondents were not sure whether their journey would be quicker or longer.

Q4. Will the proposal change your travel pattern?

Most respondents felt that there would be no change to their travel patterns.

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3.2 Detailed analysis of questionnaire responses and question

Current 491 user opinions of the proposed change

19 respondents are current users of the 491 service. 69% of this group (13 respondents) do not support the change, with concerns about a longer walking distance to and from the proposed bus stops. 26% (5 respondents) supported the change. They gave reasons such as quicker journey times as a result of the proposed re-routeing. 5% (1 respondent) currently using the service did not indicate a preference.

Of those that currently don’t use the service (18 respondents), 77% (14 respondents) do not support the change, because they felt that they would have a longer journey, 17% (3 respondents) support the change stating that the journey time would be quicker and 6% (1 respondent) did not indicate a preference.

3.3 Other Suggestions There was a free text box for people to add any comments they wished to a to make about the plans

Some respondents suggested changes to the proposal or took the opportunity to re-iterate their concerns and also comment more widely about the service. The main suggestion made by respondents was for a bus stop to be located outside the Oasis Academy because they felt it would be closer to the school and more convenient for students to access the service. There were very few comments made about the proposed re-routeing itself.

Issue Total Preference for a bus stop outside the academy 24 Proposed location is very exposed 8 Would like double deck at peak times 2 Service is unreliable 1 Retain loop at Power Drive roundabout 1 Concerned about road safety issues for students 1

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4 Responses from statutory bodies and other stakeholders

We received one response from local stakeholders. An overview of their comments is listed below.

4.1

London Borough of Enfield We did not receive a formal response from LB Enfield but they are working in partnership with TfL on this scheme.

4.2 Police

The Police had no objections to the proposal.

4.2 Oasis Academy

The Oasis Academy suggested that it would be safer and more convenient to have one bus stop located closer to the Academy rather than the two sets of new bus stops which were being proposed at Innova Way and Solar Way.

4.4 London TravelWatch

We did not receive a formal response from London TravelWatch on this scheme.

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Appendix A – Copy of the consultation letter

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Appendix B – Letter distribution area

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Appendix C – List of stakeholders consulted

Elected Members Cllr C Bond Ward Councillor, LB Enfield Cllr D Levy Ward Councillor, LB Enfield

Andy Love MP House of Commons David Burrowes MP House of Commons Nick de Bois MP House of Commons

Andrew Boff AM AM Greater London Authority Darren Johnson AM Greater London Authority Dee Doocey AM Greater London Authority AM Greater London Authority Becky Upfold Greater London Authority Jenny Jones AM Greater London Authority Joanne McCartney AM Greater London Authority Mike Tuffrey AM Greater London Authority Murad Qureshi AM Greater London Authority AM Greater London Authority AM Greater London Authority Victoria Borwick AM Greater London Authority

Local Authorities London Borough of Enfield

Other Stakeholders London TravelWatch London Cycling Campaign London Councils Enfield Transport Users Group CBI Docklands Light Railway Ltd London City Airport London Underground

Police & Health Authorities Metropolitan Police Enfield Safer Transport Team Enfield Primary Care Trust NHS London Strategic Health Authority NHS Enfield Enfield LINk West London Mental Health NHS Barnet & Chase Farm Hospital North Middlesex Hospital PPI Patients Forum

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Local Interest Groups North London Strategic Alliance Grange Park Residents Association

Local schools and amenities Oasis Academy

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