228 bus survey
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
17/11/2008
RESIDENTS are being given the chance to have their say on a controversial new bus route.
Frustrated at the flawed consultation Transport for London (TfL) carried out on the 228 bus earlier this year, Hammersmith & Fulham Council is calling on local people to take part in its own survey.
TfL asked residents if they would use the new bus, but took any ‘yes’ answers as an indication that those people wanted the service. The council will be asking people if they want the bus, and if so, the route they think it should follow.
The 228 bus has split the community it is intended to serve down the middle, with arguments both for and against the scheme. Supporters think the bus will be a much-needed transport link, while protesters claim the borough’s narrow roads will become unsafe and create a rat run for motorists. It has even drawn attention from recent James Bond author Sebastian Faulks, who claims the 228 route is not needed.
Following major opposition, including a petition with more than 500 residents’ signatures, TfL agreed to re-route the bus, avoiding Steventon Road and Bryony Road, on a temporary basis.
When the new service starts running in January, the journey will begin at Central Middlesex Hospital and will take in Old Oak Common Lane, Uxbridge Road, Bloemfontein Road and South Africa Road before finishing at Maida Hill.
H&F councillor Nicholas Botterill said: “The research TfL carried out was not thorough enough and did not ask questions specific to local people. Our consultation is doing exactly what TfL failed to do in the first place – finding out if residents want this new route. Whatever the majority decide, we will back them. If residents want the bus to go down its original proposed route, then we will lobby TfL to make changes, but if residents want the route to stay as it stands, then we will not argue with that.”
At the beginning of December, residents in areas affected by the original bus route will be asked which route they think the 228 bus should take, and to explain why they support or oppose the proposals. Transport for London carried out a consultation in the area, which showed 68 per cent of people who responded said they would use the new service. In the W12 postcode area, 265 respondents said they would use the route compared to 53 who said they would not.
Reasons for using the service included better accessibility for elderly and disabled residents in the area and others said that they would be encouraged to use cars less.
A TfL spokesperson said: “TfL carried out a consultation of 30,000 respondents over the introduction of route 228. An adjustment was made to the proposed route to remove the need for road modifications in the White City area. We welcome and will consider the results of the council’s consultation on the route in this area.”
He added that all routes in London were subject to change, and that TfL constantly reviewed its bus routes.
Single-deck buses will run daily from 5:30am until after midnight, with the route beginning at 6.30am on Sundays.
The buses will run every 12 minutes during the day, and every 20 minutes during evenings and on Sundays.
