Route 235 Extension to GWQ Consultation
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Consultation on proposal to extend route 235 Consultation Report October 2013 Contents Section Page(s) 1 Introduction 2 2 The consultation 2 3 Responses from members of the public 4 4 Responses from statutory bodies and other 8 stakeholders Appendices A Copy of the consultation leaflet and consultation map 9-10 B Leaflet distribution area 1 1 C List of stakeholders consulted 12-13 1 1 Introduction Transport for London (TfL) recently consulted stakeholders and the public on a proposed extension of route 235 to Brentford, Great West Quarter (GWQ). The consultation took place between 4 July and 9 August 2013. TfL has been working with the London Borough of Hounslow to provide an accessible bus service for residents, businesses in the GWQ who are currently remote from the bus network. This report details responses received and will contribute to the decision on whether to go ahead with the proposed scheme or not. All views will be considered in the decision making process. 2 The consultation The consultation was designed to enable TfL to: • Raise general awareness of the scheme with local residents, stakeholders and the public • Explain the proposed changes • Provide the opportunity for people to contact us with their feedback about the proposals • Highlight any opposition by clearly stating the benefits of the proposed options • State what decisions have already been taken • Include details of any studies that have been carried out The potential outcomes of the consultation were: • Decide the consultation raises no issues that should prevent us from proceeding with the scheme as originally planned. • Modify the scheme in response to issues raised in consultation • 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 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 2.2 Who we consulted This public consultation intended to seek the views of people who live near to the proposed route, residents in the GWQ, current users of the service and other potential users. Stakeholders were also consulted including, the affected Councils, traffic police, London TravelWatch, Members of Parliament, Assembly Members and local interest groups and local schools. 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 A leaflet was produced explaining the proposed re-route. This was distributed to approximately 1,400 local residents and local businesses. A copy of this leaflet is shown in Appendix A and a map of the distribution area can be found in Appendix B. The leaflet was also emailed to stakeholders, as well as being available online through the TfL consultation website. A map showing existing bus route and proposed re-route was put up at 20 bus stops along the 235 route and a press release was sent to the local media. An email was sent out to approximately 10,000 customers using the TfL Oystercard database. Two local schools, Brentford School for Girls, and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, were contacted before and during the consultation. Three specific questions were asked: • Do you currently use route 235? • Would you use the 235 following the proposed route extension? • Do you support the extension to the route 235? A free text response box was available for further comments. People could respond by post using our free postal address which was stated on the leaflet, by emailing [email protected], by using the TfL consultation website, or by calling Customer Services on 0343 222 1234. 2.4 Meetings and site visits Due to the consultation starting close to the end of the school summer term, two local schools in the area were contacted, Brentford School for Girls and St Pauls Church of England Primary School, to inform them that they would soon be receiving an email from us advising them of the proposed changes. This was followed up by further contact during the consultation to ensure that they received the email and to let them know that their views on the proposed changes would be important. 3 3 Responses from members of the public We received a total of 202 responses. 198 were submitted online, 3 by email and 1 by post as a letter. Number of replies 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Letter Website Email Total Number of replies 1 198 3 202 3.1 Public consultation results Q5. Do you currently use route 235? Number of people who currently use the route 235 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 No Yes Not Answered Total Number of replies 49 142 11 202 142 people stated that they currently use route 235, 49 people stated said they did not and 11 did not answer this question. Q6. Would you use the 235 following the proposed route extension? Number of people who would use the 235 following the proposed extension 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 No Yes Not Answered Total Number of replies 38 160 4 202 There were 160 people who indicated that they would use route 235 following the proposed extension, 38 people who said they would not and 4 people did not answer the question. 5 Q7. Do you support the extension to the route 235? Number of people who support the proposal 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Opposed Supportive Not Answered Total 171 people supported the proposal, 30 people who opposed it and 1 person did not answer the question. Out of the 30 people who opposed the proposed changes, 6 of them indicated that they would still use the 235 following the proposal. Out of the 171 people who supported the proposal, 22 indicated that they currently do not use the 235 but would use the route if the proposal was implemented. 6 Q8. Do you have any further comments? We asked for additional comments and received the following issues: Issue Total Extend 235 to Ealing Broadway 10 Will the Frequency of the bus change? 9 Change 235 to double deck bus 9 Noise Pollution 8 Overcrowding on the 235 bus 5 Extend 235 to South Ealing 5 Safety issues with children playing in GWQ 4 Extend to Great West Road 4 Air Pollution 4 235 to run later at night/become a 24hour route 4 Safety issues crossing the road 2 Litter from people waiting at the new bus stop in GWQ 2 Extend to new Brentford FC site 2 Extend to Chiswick 2 7 4 Responses from statutory bodies and other stakeholders A total of 7 stakeholder responses were received. There was no overall response from the London Borough of Hounslow as a whole Summary of stakeholder comments: Councillor Matt Harmer, Brentford Ward, LB Hounslow Thanks. Fully support and have replied to online consultation. Councillor Robert Oulds, Chiswick Homefields Ward, LB Hounslow This appears to be a very sensible suggestion. London Borough of Hounslow - Learning Disability Day Services A number of our service users and their elderly parents live in this area. The proposed extension to the 235 route would save changing buses, crossing busy roads and be generally safer. West London University Very timely for travelling to work etc. Along with the buses 65 and H91 the new extension for the bus 235 will create good connections for residents and business alike, especially those working in the Golden Mile vicinity. Brentford School for Girls Sounds like there'd be better links to H91. Brentford Football Club It will help reduce crowds on match days at Brentford Football Club with fans using public transport to and from Hounslow. Brentford Chamber of Commerce Supportive. 8 Appendix A – Copy of the consultation leaflet 9 Copy of the consultation map 10 Appendix B – Leaflet distribution area Consultation Area 1: GWQ - Brentford Consultation Area 2: Back Lane - Brentford 11 Appendix C – List of stakeholders consulted Boroughs and Councils London Borough of Hounslow Political Stakeholders Position Organisation Mary Macleod Member of Parliament House of Commons Tony Arbour Assembly Member Greater London Authority Caroline Pidgeon Assembly Member Greater London Authority Darren Johnson Assembly Member Greater London Authority Jenny Jones Assembly Member Greater London Authority Gareth Bacon Assembly Member Greater London Authority Mike Tuffrey Assembly Member Greater London Authority Mary-Clare Connellan Assembly Member Greater London Authority Murad Qureshi Assembly Member Greater London Authority Nicky Gavron Assembly Member Greater London Authority Andrew Boff Assembly Member Greater London Authority Victoria Borwick Assembly Member Greater London Authority Tom Copley Assembly Member Greater London Authority Stephen Knight Assembly Member Greater London Authority Fiona Twycross Assembly Member Greater London Authority Cllr Ruth Cadbury Brentford Ward London Borough of Hounslow Cllr Melvin Collins Brentford Ward London Borough of Hounslow Cllr Matthew Harmer Brentford Ward London Borough of Hounslow Cllr Jason Ellar Syon Ward London Borough of Hounslow Cllr Steve Curran Syon Ward London Borough of Hounslow Cllr Theo Dennison Syon Ward London Borough of Hounslow Cllr Ed Mayne Isleworth Ward London Borough of Hounslow Cllr Pritam Grewal Isleworth Ward London Borough of Hounslow Cllr Robert Oulds Chiswick Homefields Ward London Borough of Hounslow Local Groups/Businesses Brentford Dock Residents Association