TfL to Conduct Review of 22 Bus Route

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Extension to Barnes seems unlikely due to cost considerations

Gyles Brandreth questions Leon Daniels of TfL

A group of Barnes residents has persuaded Transport for London to conduct a review of bus services in the area following a campaign which secured the support of over 3300 residents. However, the requested extension of the 22 route seems unlikely to happen with TfL claiming the cost is prohibitive.

The 22 bus campaign team has been pushing for TfL to bring the 22 bus, which comes from Piccadilly and currently terminates at Putney Common, to Barnes.

TfL’s Managing Director of Surface Transport, Leon Daniels agreed to come to Barnes to respond to the campaign after thousands of people voiced their support. He was quizzed by local resident and Chair Gyles Brandreth on the reasons why TfL were resisting the request to extend the 22 bus route and on the plans for changes to bus routes during the closure of Hammersmith Bridge. Over 500 local residents attended the meeting with significant numbers turned away as the hall was full.

During the meeting Leon Daniels:
• committed to conduct a thorough review of public transport in Barnes with results by the end of the year.
• did not rule out the 22 extension but thought it unlikely due to cost.
• acknowledged the need for a link to Putney and across the river to Fulham especially necessary when Hammersmith Bridge is closed for repairs.
• agreed to look to reduce the cost of policing the buses on the bridge as soon as possible and invest this cost into better buses in Barnes.
• agreed to a public consultation on temporary changes to bus routes during the closure of Hammersmith Bridge to enable residents to get around and improved links with Putney Bridge links will be part of this review.
• agreed to return to Barnes to explain the outcome of the consultation.

Leon Daniels commented that Barnes has an opportunity in that it is ‘unique in being an affluent area with significant car ownership calling for better public transport’. He added that he had asked his team: ‘to think creatively as to what we can do to make buses more attractive in Barnes so they (residents) use their cars less’.

Over 500 people packed into the hall for the meeting

The extraordinary turn-out was commented upon by all those who support the campaign including Richmond Council, ward councillors and officers, the representatives of MP Sarah Olney and local businesses including the London Wetlands Centre and Olympic Studios.

Tony Arbour, Greater London Assembly Member for South West London, said of the meeting: ‘This was the largest community (as opposed to political) meeting I have ever attended in the Borough’.

Chris Bainbridge, Special Transport Projects Adviser, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham commented: ‘It was a very good turnout for a positive campaign – one usually only gets large numbers of people out to oppose things.’

During the meeting it emerged that the timing of the structural improvement works to Hammersmith Bridge has not been finalised but the bridge will most likely be closed from summer 2018, for a maximum of one year. There will be pedestrian access over Hammersmith Bridge while it is being repaired. The plan is to increase the limit to 18.5 tonnes to allow double decker buses over Hammersmith Bridge but there are no intentions to increase this limit further.

April 20, 2017