CHISWICK AREA COMMITTEE (MONITORING) 10 DECEMBER 2003
CHISWICK BUS SERVICES – PROBABLE CHANGES AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES
Report by: Assistant Chief Executive, Corporate Policy and Regeneration
SUMMARY
This report details current London Buses proposals and sets out some options for possible improvements to bus services in Chiswick.
1. RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:
1.1 Supports London Buses’ proposal to run route 91 via Chiswick High Road only, on the condition that a suitable alternative bus service is provided for Wellesley Road;
1.2 Notes the possible future service alterations set out in the report and requests Officers to progress these improvements in discussion with London Buses.
2. INTRODUCTION
2.1 This report details a proposed change to route H91 from Saturday 6 March 2004 and presents a number of suggested improvements to other routes operating in Chiswick.
2.2 A total of 10 bus routes currently pass through Chiswick, with one new route proposed plus an extension of another route into Chiswick. The routes are summarised in tabular form below and each route is shown separately in a pdf attached. Each route is then discussed in turn in sections 3-14.
2.3 Chiswick Bus Route Summary
Route Termini Operator Vehicle Type Frequency* Contract Peak/IP**/ Renewal Evening/ Date (Sat/Sun)*** E3 Greenford First Double deck 6/6/10-12 May 2007 Chiswick (6/12) E11 Greenford First Single deck 20/20/20-30 May 2007 Ealing Common (20/30) H91 Hounslow West United Single deck 12/12/15-20 March 2004 Hammersmith (12/20) 27 Chiswick First Double deck 10/10/15 Nov 2005 Chalk Farm (10/12) 94 Acton Green United Routemaster 5/12/10 tbc Piccadilly (12/15) 190 Richmond Armchair Single deck 20/20/20 Dec 2006 West Brompton (20/20) 237 Hounslow Heath Armchair Double deck 8/8/10-12 tbc Shepherd’s Bush (8/12) 267 Fulwell United Double deck 11/12/15-20 Nov 2005 Hammersmith (12/12) 272 Chiswick United Single deck 15/15/20-30 May 2007 Shepherd’s Bush (15/15) 391 Richmond United Single deck 12/12/15 Dec 2006 Fulham Broadway (12/15) 392 Brentford - - - - Acton 440 Stonebridge Park United Single deck 15/15/15-30 May 2007 Stamford Brook (15/20)
* Frequencies are expressed in minutes, averaged for the time period concerned. The very late evening frequencies may be lower than the evening figure(s). ** IP: Interpeak (i.e. weekday day time, between peak periods). *** Saturday/Sunday daytime frequencies. Early morning frequencies and evening frequencies are generally lower.
2.4 The specification and operation of bus services within the Borough is ultimately the responsibility of London Buses (a division of Transport for London), who award the service contracts by competitive tender. Almost all routes operating in Chiswick feature modern, low floor, fully accessible buses. The main exceptions are the H91 and 94 routes, both of which will utilise newer buses from next year.
3. ROUTE E3: GREENFORD – CHISWICK
Current Situation
3.1 The E3 service runs from Greenford to Edensor Road, Chiswick, via West Ealing, Acton, Bedford Park, Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick High Road and Sutton Court Road. (Only broad areas and main roads will be mentioned in this report unless there are significant issues at particular locations.)
3.2 This service was enhanced in May 2002 by replacing the previous single deck vehicles with new low-floor, fully-accessible double-deckers and by doubling the frequency to six minutes (Monday-Saturday daytimes) on the Chiswick- Acton sector to address previous overcrowding and to match service levels on the Greenford-Acton sector. Previously, some buses from Greenford had terminated at Acton.
3.3 This route was discussed in detail in a report to the Chiswick Area Committee on 4 November 2002, following public concern regarding the effects on Chiswick of the increased frequency and the switch to the new larger buses. Issues included noise and vibration created by the larger vehicles, the increased numbers of vehicles “bunching” along the route and standing at the Edensor Road terminus, and local traffic congestion. Members were also keen to explore the possibility of extending the route to the end of Pumping Station Road and/or providing a service to Staveley Gardens.
3.4 While passenger numbers have increased in response to the improved service levels, the majority of buses running this route through Chiswick are still relatively lightly loaded at most times of the day. The sheer bulk of these larger vehicles contributes to a view by some residents that the service is significantly over-specified. Recently, the Committee agreed to proposals to increase loading/waiting restrictions on Turnham Green Terrace in an attempt to address traffic congestion partly caused by the buses.
3.5 Despite a formal request from the Council, London Buses have ruled out reversion to single-deckers due to contractual arrangements and the fact that smaller buses would provide inadequate capacity in the Greenford-Acton sector without further increases in service frequency. The Council has no power to force a change of bus type.
3.6 The Council also proposed splitting the route at Acton, which would have allowed single deckers to be used on the Acton-Chiswick sector. Reducing the route length in this way would have reduced bunching, which tends to be proportional to route length. London Buses declined this proposal due to the numbers of passengers who would have to transfer at Acton, and due to problems with terminus space at that location. The bus operator, in cooperation with London Buses has, however, made minor adjustments to the timetable and introduced additional supervisory resources in an attempt to reduce bunching.
3.7 As there is little likelihood of major changes to the E3 service in the foreseeable future, opportunities to extend or bifurcate the route have been ruled out, but the problems of excessive numbers of buses at the Edensor Road terminus, while somewhat reduced, have clearly not been eliminated.
3.8 Besides pinch-points at various locations along the E3 route, there is currently a significant problem at Sutton Lane North. As a consequence of the reversal of traffic flows on Chiswick Road (under the Chiswick Road/Acton Lane Green Areas scheme), the traffic signals at the Chiswick High Road/Acton Lane/Sutton Lane North junction were adjusted to provide more green time for Chiswick High Road. While efforts are being made to fine-tune the signals, there are currently unacceptable queues on Sutton Lane North. While private motor traffic on this road has reduced somewhat (as drivers have sought other routes) Sutton Lane North accommodates four bus routes (E3, H91, 27, 272), with a total of 25 or more buses each hour using this road. All of these buses (on average one on every cycle of the traffic lights) have to make a right turn into Chiswick High Road against oncoming traffic from Acton Lane. The larger buses in particular tend to completely block egress from Sutton Lane North while waiting to turn, and it is imperative that at least some of these buses are rerouted away from this critical junction.
Proposal
3.9 It is proposed that northbound route E3 buses turn right from Sutton Court Road into Heathfield Terrace and run past the Chiswick Post Office to rejoin the existing route on Chiswick High Road. (Refer to map.) This new route would eliminate a “dog’s leg” that yields very few passengers but causes significant delay and local congestion. The route would be reduced by about 400 metres and two stops would be missed – on Sutton Lane North and on Chiswick High Road. While the Sutton Lane North stop does not appear to be well used, the loss of the Chiswick High Road stop nearest Sainsbury’s might be unpopular with passengers with shopping, however the next stop on Chiswick High Road is less than 200 metres further east.
3.10 Recently, while Sutton Lane North was being resurfaced, the above route was employed and proved popular with the bus drivers while not generating significant numbers of complaints from passengers.
3.11 The Committee is requested to endorse this proposal. London Buses would be requested to action the change as soon as possible. There would be no change to the southbound route.
3.12 Consideration could also be given to reversing the direction of traffic flow on Town Hall Avenue and/or conversion of Sutton Lane North to one-way operation. These options might provide further benefits to buses and general traffic, but would require detailed traffic analysis and, if progressed, additional traffic signals. Consideration of these options should not delay rerouting of the E3 as proposed in 3.9 above.
4. ROUTE E11: GREENFORD - EALING COMMON
Current Situation
4.1 Route E11 is a relatively new service, having operated since May 2002, replacing the E10 service between Greenford and Ealing Common via West Ealing and Ealing Broadway. (Route E10 was diverted to run via another route between Northolt and Ealing Broadway). The service uses single-decker buses at a 20-30 minute frequency.
4.2 Chiswick (Business) Park has been in discussion with Ealing Council and London Buses regarding a proposed extension of route E11 to serve Chiswick Park. Funded by Chiswick Park’s s106 contributions, the extended route would run via Popes Lane, Gunnersbury Lane and Bollo Lane to a new bus- only entrance to Chiswick Park that would be developed between the two level crossings. The route would then either terminate at Chiswick Park or could be extended to Chiswick town centre.
4.3 The main purpose of the extended route is to provide a bus service to Chiswick Park from Greenford, West Ealing and Ealing Broadway, and also to provide a bus link between Chiswick Park and Acton Town Station (Piccadilly and District Lines). An alternative route, via Gunnersbury Avenue and Chiswick High Road, would involve longer travel times and the loss of the Acton Town Station link.
Proposals
4.4 From Chiswick Park, this service could run to Chiswick Post Office via Oxford Road North and Wellesley Road. This would provide a replacement service on Wellesley Road if the H91 service is rerouted (refer section 5 below), with the advantage for Wellesley Road residents of a direct connection at Acton Town to the Piccadilly Line as well as a choice of shopping destinations (Chiswick town centre and Ealing Broadway).
4.5 The Committee is requested to endorse this proposal, for implementation in 2004, as soon as Chiswick Park’s Bollo Lane entrance and link road can be completed.
4.6 The committee is also requested to endorse a proposal to request London Buses to increase the service frequency to 15-20 minutes.
5. ROUTE H91: HOUNSLOW WEST – HAMMERSMITH
Current Situation
5.1 Route H91 runs from Hounslow West Station to Hammersmith via the Great West Road (A4), Chiswick High Road and King Street. The route is operated mainly by single-decker buses at a relatively low frequency. (Double-deckers are occasionally used on some trips due to operational circumstances.) Its main purpose is to provide a service along the Great West Road, where there is relatively low residential demand but considerable potential patronage to and from the commercial buildings along the “Golden Mile” between Gillette Corner and the Chiswick Roundabout.
5.2 The route includes a diversion via Oxford Road North, Wellesley Road and Sutton Lane North, where it provides a local service one block south of Chiswick High Road. This diversion means that the H91 misses Gunnersbury Station and the potential connection to District Line and North London Line trains, although arguably a connection can be made on Wellesley Road.
5.3 The relatively low frequency, poor peak hour service reliability (due mainly to traffic congestion on the A4 and occasionally on Wellesley Road) and lack of an obvious connection at Gunnersbury Station, have contributed to poor patronage and the proliferation of local shuttle buses provided by major Golden Mile employers and available only to their employees.
5.4 Hounslow Council has been lobbying London Buses to improve the H91. A significant increase in frequency would help to compensate for fluctuations in running times due to traffic congestion, and would have the potential to start a “virtuous circle” of patronage increase and further service improvement. Section 106 contributions are potentially available from GlaxoSmithKline and several other new developments along the Golden Mile to “pump-prime” this service improvement.
5.5 London Buses has recently advised the Council that they propose to increase evening and Sunday services from the current 20 minute intervals to 15 minutes, and to provide earlier and later journeys from Saturday 6 March. These improvements are welcomed, but Council has advised London Buses that an improvement to the current 12 minute peak and interpeak frequency is paramount. A meeting will be arranged to explore the use of section 106 contributions to effect this improvement.
5.6 As part of the plans to improve the service, London Buses has advised that it intends to remove the Wellesley Road diversion, in order to create a simpler, more direct and more marketable route via Chiswick High Road and the A4. This would provide an obvious link between the Golden Mile and Gunnersbury Station/Chiswick Business Park.
5.7 Given the current service reliability problems and the Sutton Lane North issue (refer section 3.8), the proposed more direct route appears logical. Wellesley Road could be served by another route – the E11 or perhaps route 27. 5.8 Last year there was some discussion within the Council about the possibility of route H91 running entirely along the A4, i.e. via the Hogarth Roundabout instead of along Chiswick High Road. This issue has not been progressed as it did not find favour within London Buses. While it would have provided faster journeys between Hammersmith and Chiswick Roundabout and a useful service for residents and workers along that route, it would have disenfranchised many existing passengers and the potential link to trains at Gunnersbury would have been lost.
Proposals
5.9 The Committee is requested to endorse London Buses’ proposal to take route H91 out of Wellesley Road, but only on the condition that a suitable alternative bus service is provided for Wellesley Road at the time the change is made to the H91.
5.10 The Committee is also requested to endorse Council’s efforts to increase peak and interpeak H91 frequencies.
6. ROUTE 27: CHISWICK - CHALK FARM
Current Situation
6.1 Route 27 is a medium-high frequency double-decker service terminating in Heathfield Terrace at the Chiswick Post Office. It combines with routes H91, 267 and 391 to provide a very high level of service on Chiswick High Road and King Street through to Hammersmith, from which point it continues through to Kensington High Street, Marylebone Road and Camden Town. This is a convenient and very cost-competitive alternative to tube services, albeit rather a slow journey.
6.2 The current terminus is not ideal. The large buses take valuable road space and passengers may not board at this location. Route 27 buses contribute to congestion in Sutton Lane North although peculiarly they do not stop at this location.
6.3 Route 27 has been earmarked for possible extension to Chiswick Park. This would provide a useful additional destination with only a small increase in route length, and would clear the Heathfield Terrace stand and reduce congestion on Sutton Lane North.
6.4 Route 27 could conceivably run to Chiswick Park via Wellesley Road, (refer map) providing a range of useful destinations for local residents. However, the presence of double-deckers at 10-15 minute frequencies might not be welcomed in that street. Wellesley Road would be more appropriately served by route E11 as discussed in section 4 above.
Proposal
6.5 The Committee is requested to endorse a proposal to London Buses to have route 27 extended via Chiswick High Road to a new terminus at the back of Chiswick Park. This route extension could be implemented as soon as possible, if necessary utilising a temporary layover facility at Chiswick Park. (Note that this proposal is not the same as that shown in the route 27 map, which will be amended before the Committee meeting, however the extension via Wellesley Road could remain an option if Route E11 is not extended.)
7. ROUTE 94 ACTON GREEN – PICCADILLY
Current Situation
7.1 Route 94’s involvement in Chiswick (LB Hounslow) is limited to Bath Road only, en route to Shepherd’s Bush from its terminus in Acton Green (LB Ealing). It provides a useful (but slow) service through to Piccadilly Circus via Bayswater Road, Oxford Street and Regent Street, together with a link to Shepherd’s Bush from the District Line tubes at Turnham Green.
7.2 The service was enhanced with additional frequencies from 1 February 2003, marking an end to the unpopular former practice wherein some services from Piccadilly short-ran to Shepherd’s Bush.
7.3 The service is currently operated by Routemaster double-deckers, bringing a touch of central London to Chiswick and Acton. However, in January 2004 these will be replaced by modern, low-floor double-deckers. This will require minor alterations to the Acton Green terminus, which is LB Ealing’s concern.
Proposal
7.4 The Committee is requested to note the conversion of route 94 to modern fully-accessible double-decker operation.
8. ROUTE 190: RICHMOND - WEST BROMPTON
Current Situation
8.1 Route 190 is a useful low frequency single-decker service from Richmond via the A316 Great Chertsey Road, Hogarth Roundabout, Chiswick Lane and the eastern end of Chiswick High Road through to West Brompton via Hammersmith.
8.2 Due to the low (20 minute) frequency, this route is not particularly useful as a link between the Fullers Brewery/Hogarth Business Park area and the High Street, and the nearest useful tube connection is at Hammersmith, or Stamford Brook/ Ravenscourt Park with a short walk.
Proposal
8.3 The service does not come up for re-tendering until December 2006, however this should not prevent the Committee requesting London Buses to increase the frequency to 15 minutes at all times, effective early 2004, in line with the Mayor of London’s commitment to make buses a more attractive transport mode.
9. ROUTE 237: HOUNSLOW HEATH - -SHEPHERD’S BUSH
Current Situation
9.1 Route 237 is a high frequency service along Chiswick High Road using modern, fully accessible double-decker buses. This provides transport between Chiswick and Shepherd’s Bush in the east and Brentford and central Hounslow in the west.
9.2 Route 237 is benefiting from a whole-of route strategy under Transport for London’s London Bus Initiative (LBI). A comprehensive range of bus priority measures is being progressed along Chiswick High Road, London Road, and Staines Road (Hounslow), aimed at improving travel speeds and bus reliability. These measures will also benefit all other services running along the same parts of the route.
9.3 Route 237 was increased in frequency from June 2002 and there are no additional proposals.
10. ROUTE 267: FULWELL – HAMMERSMITH
Current Situation
10.1 Route 267 is a medium frequency double-decker service, providing access to Hammersmith, Brentford, Isleworth (West Middlesex University Hospital), Twickenham and Fulwell. Services extend to Hampton Court on summer Sundays and public holidays (May-September).
10.2 Route 267 operates along Chiswick High Road and will benefit from new bus priority measures under the LBI’s route 237 strategy. There are no additional proposals.
11. ROUTE 272: CHISWICK - SHEPHERD’S BUSH
Current Situation
11.1 Route 272 is a medium-low frequency single-decker service that runs from Grove Park to Shepherd’s Bush via Sutton Court Road, Chiswick High Road, Fishers Lane, South Parade, Bath Road, Emlyn and Larden Roads (LBs Hammersmith and Ealing), Acton Vale and Du Cane Road . Introduced in May 2002, route 272 is a substantially new service, although the Chiswick sector of the route is merely a replacement of the previous H40 route.
11.2 This new service has not been without controversy. A proposal to run services through Strand on the Green to Kew Green or Fountain Leisure Centre was postponed pending eventual improvements to the junction at Kew Bridge. A fallback proposal to terminate the route at Spring Grove did not find favour with local residents. Outside the borough, there was a campaign to remove buses from Emlyn and Larden Roads. Despite this, the service performs a range of valuable functions, providing transport from a range of residential areas to the Chiswick Medical Centre and Hammersmith / Queen’s Charlotte &Chelsea Hospitals and providing shoppers’ and commuter services on roads not previously served by buses. It even provides a “direct”, if circuitous, service from Chiswick to the BBC Television Centre at White City.
Proposals
11.3 Route 272 is well suited to a “Chiswick Circuit” concept, as shown in the attached map, providing a range of additional destinations through the southern part of Chiswick.
11.4 Despite the previous “false start”, it is proposed to extend the service to Strand on the Green, which is one of Chiswick’s most poorly served areas in terms of public transport. The probable route from Grove Park would be via Hartington Road, Grove Park Road, Thames Road and Strand on the Green. The route would then extend onto Chiswick High Road and via Chiswick Roundabout to Chiswick Town Centre. This would provide train/tube connections at Gunnersbury Station. The terminus could be at Chiswick Post Office or at or near the Chiswick Medical Centre, both useful destinations in themselves.
11.5 Extension of the route as described above would be dependent on Transport for London signalising the Strand on the Green approach to the Kew Bridge junction. This will probably happen in the 2004/5 financial year. Spring Grove is not a suitable terminus point and this option should not be pursued. An option to take the route to Kew Gardens would have limited benefits and would involve difficult turns at Kew Bridge.
11.6 The map shows a possible return route to Strand on the Green via part of Wellesley Road. In fact route 272 is a further candidate to provide a service along Wellesley Road if options to serve this street with route E11 or route 27 do not proceed. However, running route 272 via more of Wellesley Road (through as far as Oxford Road North) would be at the expense of a useful connection at Gunnersbury Station for Strand on the Green residents. A better option would therefore be to run the extended route 272 west on Chiswick High Road from a terminus at or near the Medical Centre.
11.7 Besides Strand on the Green, the other key component of the “Chiswick Circuit” would be the re-routing of the 272 from Sutton Court Road via Staveley Road, Burlington Lane, the Hogarth Roundabout and Chiswick Lane. The route would then follow Chiswick High Road and Turnham Green Terrace, leaving the restricted Fishers Lane underpass to route 440.
11.8 The above option would provide a bus service to the middle part of Staveley Road / Park Road, and would provide a direct link between Fullers Brewery/Hogarth Business Park and Turnham Green station. It would also relieve pressure on the northern half of Sutton Court Road and on Sutton Lane North, although doubtless there would be some existing passengers who would be disenfranchised.
11.9 The Committee is requested to endorse the proposal to refer the above proposals to London Buses with a request for their consideration with a view to implementation sometime in 2004, subject of course to public consultation. The Committee may also wish to add alternative proposals for consideration.
12. ROUTE 391: RICHMOND - FULHAM BROADWAY
Current Situation
12.1 Route 391 is a medium frequency single-decker service providing access to Richmond, Kew Gardens, Hammersmith and Fulham Broadway. The service frequencies were increased in December 2001 and there are no current proposals for any further changes.
13. ROUTE 392: BRENTFORD – ACTON
Current Situation
13.1 The proposed Brentford to Acton (route 392) bus service is designed primarily to link office developments at Chiswick Park and along the Great West Road with Acton Town, Gunnersbury and Brentford stations. Section 106 funding from adjacent developments is to be used to support the service.
13.2 From a terminus in Grant Way (near Gillette Corner), the service is proposed to run via the Great West Road, Boston Manor Road, Brentford High Street, Kew Bridge Road and Chiswick High Road, entering Chiswick Park at the main entrance and exiting via the bus-only gate onto Bollo Lane before running north to Acton Town station and terminating at Acton Town Hall.
13.3 The above route was approved by the Isleworth and Brentford Area Committee in 2002. However, in response to a petition from residents of the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate and Gunnersbury Avenue, the Chiswick Area Committee voted to withhold the use of s 106 funds unless the route ran from Brentford via Chiswick Roundabout, Gunnersbury Avenue and Gunnersbury Lane, Acton Town station and Bollo Lane to Chiswick Park. While this latter route would provide a service to the Gunnersbury Avenue area, the direct connection between the Great West Road and Chiswick Park/Gunnersbury Station would be lost .
13.4. A single suitable route could not be developed that would satisfy all the requirements established above. The middle part of Gunnersbury Avenue (in the vicinity of the International School) is undoubtedly poorly served, however it has relatively low numbers of potential bus passengers (albeit reportedly a higher than average proportion of elderly people), and there would be difficulties establishing safe bus stops and crossing points given the high off-peak traffic speeds on this route. The section of Gunnersbury Avenue closer to Gunnersbury Lane and most of the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate are in reasonable walking distance of the high frequency E3 route which operates on Gunnersbury Lane and provides a service to Chiswick town centre via Acton. Further, a bus service on Gunnersbury Avenue would only be useful if it provided transport to a desired destination, which appears unlikely with the proposed route 392. While it would connect with the underground at Acton Town, it would not take passengers to Chiswick town centre.
13.5 London Buses has indicated that it takes 12 to 18 months from confirmation of funding to implement a service on a new route. It is therefore essential to make progress with route 392, as some of the s106 contributions may be time- limited. Conversely, however, it may be more advantageous to scrap the route 392 proposals and direct the s106 resources into alternatives including a higher frequency on other routes.
13.6 Looking at the main markets for route 392 (as originally proposed) it becomes clear that many of the trips could be accommodated by other means. For example, the link between Gunnersbury Station and the Great West Road could be achieved by a higher frequency route H91 service, running via Chiswick High Road as opposed to Wellesley Road. Trips between Brentford Station and the Golden Mile west of Boston Manor Road could be similarly accommodated with only a short walk between the station and the Great West Road. A higher frequency of service between Chiswick Park and Acton Town station (to supplement the low frequency route E11 extension) could be achieved by other means. There would of course, be some potential journeys on route 392 that could not conveniently be made on other services, such as from the bottom of Ealing Road to Gillette corner.
13.7 One option, therefore, to solve the Chiswick dilemma, would be to introduce a short, medium-high frequency route starting at Chiswick town centre and running via Chiswick High Road, Chiswick Park, Bollo Lane, Acton Town Station, Gunnersbury Lane, Gunnersbury Avenue to, say, Chiswick Roundabout and return (without a terminus at the roundabout). This short route would be able to be operated with minimal resources and should be able to be reliable in the face of variable traffic levels on Gunnersbury Avenue. It would provide connections at Chiswick Roundabout (routes H91, 237, 267, 272 (if extended) and 391). Passengers wishing to travel between Gunnersbury Avenue and Chiswick town centre would be able to board and alight on the side of Gunnersbury Avenue that is closest to their home or workplace and would not need to cross this busy arterial. This route would provide a reliable service between Gunnersbury Station/Chiswick Park and Acton Town station, supplementing the extended route E11. Other markets would be catered for on other services as noted in 13.6
Proposals
13.8 The Committee should note that further consideration needs to be undertaken for route 392 and related alternatives.
14. ROUTE 440: STONEBRIDGE PARK - STAMFORD BROOK
Current Situation
14.1 Route 440 is a medium-low frequency single decker route, linking Chiswick with Acton via South Acton (Bollo Lane and Bollo Bridge Road). From Acton, the route extends north to Park Royal and was extended in March 2003 to Stonebridge Park. The Chiswick terminus is at the London United bus garage at Stamford Brook.
Proposals
14.2 While the service is not due for retendering until May 2007, a route extension could perhaps be negotiated with London Buses, to serve Staveley Gardens. This is a poorly served area and a possible route is shown on the map - via Sutton Court Road (north end), the A4, Hogarth Roundabout and Great Chertsey Road. This route would provide additional service to the Park Road/ Hogarth roundabout area. A turning area would need to be created at the end of Staveley Gardens, possibly by extending the route through to the edge of the Riverside Leisure Centre car park.
14.3 The Committee is requested to endorse this proposal for discussion with London Buses.
15.0 BUS ROUTE COVERAGE IN CHISWICK
15.1 The final two maps appended to this report show the areas within 300 metres, “as the crow flies” of a bus route, with the current and proposed routes in operation. The 300 metre direct line is a rough proxy for a 400 metre walk to the nearest bus stops and is presented purely for illustrative purposes.
15.2 The Current Routes map shows three poorly served areas in Chiswick:
• The middle part of Gunnersbury Avenue centred on the International School; • Strand on the Green from Meade Close to Riverview Road and north to a point at Cedars Road; • The east end of Ellesmere Road including the north end of Park Road and the south ends of Dukes Avenue and Duke Road.
15.3 The Proposed Routes map reduces the Strand on the Green area to a small triangle southwest of Cedars Road and removes the Ellesmere Road area. The Gunnersbury Avenue area would not be reduced unless a service was provided along that route.
16. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
16.1 Buses are particularly used by lower income groups, women, elderly people and young people who have no access to a car. A very high proportion of buses in London are now fully accessible. This benefits not only people with disabilities but also elderly passengers, shoppers carrying heavy bags, and parents with small children.
17. ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
17.1 Improving bus services provides a more attractive alternative to the private car. This should encourage a reduction in private car traffic, which will provide environmental and health benefits by reducing pollution, congestion and accidents.
Contact: Chris Calvi-Freeman, Head of Transport Telephone: 020 8583 5215 Background Papers: This report has been or is due to be Report to Chiswick Area Committee- considered by: Monitoring, 25 September 2002: Chiswick Chiswick Area Committee Bus Services Update
Report to Chiswick Area Committee- Monitoring, 4 November 2002: Update on Bus Services in Chiswick This report is relevant to all wards