Councillor Barrie Hargrove Our Ref: BH-/24112010/LO Cabinet Member for Transport, th 24 November 2010 Environment & Recycling Labour Member for Ward Peter Bradley Cabinet Suite Head of Consultation and Engagement Council Unit P.O. Box 64529 Surface Transport SE1P 5LX Tel: 020 7525 7227 11th floor, Zone G2, Palestra Fax: 020 7525 7269 197 Blackfriars Road E-mail: [email protected] London SE1 8NJ

Dear Peter,

Re: Autumn 210 bus service review programme

Thank you for your letter dated 15th October 2010 inviting comments on the service review programme. The following comments have been collated from feedback from elected members specifically related to this consultation and from issues previously raised by members and residents.

On a general note the council would wish to reiterate its comments made in response to the Mayor’s Statement of Intent with respect to bus operation and the need to review bus route planning:

“Southwark has a high reliance on the bus network particularly within the central areas of the borough. These buses provide both positive and negative impacts and the effects of operation within central London are often carried over to these areas. The council would welcome longer term planning of both the network and services to provide a more reflective pattern to the changing needs of passengers. This planning should also make the system more logical and easier to understand and use.”

It should be noted that the underground rail network currently only reaches the north of the borough and, although the second phase of the East London line extension has recently received funding, the majority of our communities are and will remain dependent on the bus network. Indeed this dependency is exacerbated by the decision to stop further work on developing the cross river scheme which had been promoted to provide improved access to public transport in particular areas.

There is concern that the advance planning for route capacity and frequency does not take account of planned population growth as set out in the Mayor’s housing targets and the borough’s planning documents. Instead of anticipating demand and facilitating good travel habits for new residents the opportunity is lost and problems are allowed to develop before any action is taken. The increased population also makes demands on the night bus service.

Four areas within the borough have been identified as having particularly poor public transport accessibility; the Rotherhithe peninsular; north Peckham estate; Dulwich; and , of these the north Peckham estate includes a number of the most deprived communities in Southwark.

The north Peckham Estate is currently served by the 343, which is currently under review. This service links New Cross with London Bridge passing through Peckham, north east Camberwell, the and thus the area is provided with a link to London Bridge and opportunities to interchange at Peckham and Elephant and Castle. The communities along this route are those that would have benefited particularly from the cross river tram. Regardless of any currently proposed improvements to capacity it is still considered that there is potential to provide a direct link to a destination north of the river by diverting one of the Camberwell/Peckham-Waterloo/Westminster or services via Southampton Way/Commercial Way or St Georges Way.

The population of the Riverside, Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks areas has increased rapidly over the last 3-4 years and further growth is planned particularly in the Canada Water area. A number of routes serving this area originate in areas which have also seen substantial growth resulting in a lack of capacity in the peak hours. Changing and varied work patterns are resulting in earlier starts for many people however the service frequency before 7.00 a.m. is particularly poor. Improving the earlier frequency may result in a spreading of the passenger load releasing later capacity. It is noted that the C10 is currently being reviewed but the opportunity for this service to be rerouted through wider residential area in Bermondsey to provide better links for residents to the Blue and an improved interchange with other bus services is not to taken up. In this case some thought should be given to whether there is another way of improving access to facilities for these residents.

Complaints have been received regarding overcrowding on the Old Kent Road corridor particularly on the 78 and 172 during morning peak hours. The conversion of the 78 to double deck will help relieve this however it is considered that enhanced frequency is also necessary to cope with the increased demand notably from the occupation of the later phases of the Bermondsey Spa developments.

The Dulwich area in particular lacks orbital north-east to south-west public transport links. In the light of this the 197 provides a valuable link, north to Peckham and south to Sydenham and Croydon and may help to mitigate the future reduction in capacity on the 12 over this part of the route. The authority remains disappointed by the decision to replace the bendy-buses with double deckers with a consequential loss of capacity and would welcome a reassurance that those routes will be regularly monitored to ensure the remaining capacity is sufficient.

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There are also ongoing concerns regarding the deterioration of the 37 service which provides the only service to East Dulwich Hospital. This seems particularly poor in the evenings and there are worries that vulnerable passenger are left waiting in relatively isolated areas for upwards of 30 minutes.

There is ongoing disappointment that, other than for the low frequency P13, it has not proved possible to find a service to make use of the bus standing area provided at Sainsbury’s on Dog Kennel Hill and thus improve access to this recently expanded facility. It is considered that there is potential for the 42 and 484 to provide complimentary links. In the case of the 42 by extending the route from its current terminal in Sunray Avenue passed Dulwich Hospital and for the 484 to be diverted on its journey along Dog Kennel Hill, both these routes currently appear relatively short.

Currently there are no direct services from Peckham bus station to the main Denmark Hill entrance of King’s College hospital and an extension to the 136 could provide this with the potential to utilise Sainsbury’s Dog Kennel Hill as the turnaround.

There remain concerns regarding capacity, early termination and reliability for the P12. There is potential to partly address this by extending the 63 to Honor Oak Station thus providing a more direct service to Peckham.

Following on from the consolidation of the councils backroom functions at Tooley Street there is likely to be further consolidation of the remaining office functions along with new locations for customer facing services around the centre of the borough. Once details have been confirmed we would welcome the opportunity to discuss whether adjustments to the bus network would be beneficial.

I hope you find these comments useful and I look forward to receiving your considered response to the issues raised as well the more detailed proposals in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Barrie Hargrove Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment & Recycling

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