Crowded buses - Khalsa challenges TfL bosses

12.00.00am GMT Thu 12th Jan 2006

Satnam Kaur Khalsa and Pat Braby wait in the cold at an 81 bus stop in Heston

Bus services in the Heston area have come under scrutiny from local and London Liberal Democrats. Transport bosses have been pressed to find ways of reducing overcrowding and improving local bus services. Local Liberal Democrats Harjinder Singh and Satnam Kaur Khalsa have analysed bus hot spots and teamed up with Geoff Pope (Liberal Democrat Transport lead on the London Assembly) to lobby for better bus services.

Satnam Kaur Khalsa commented:

"I am appalled that our elderly have to wait in the cold for a bus to appear and when it does arrive it is already full with no seats. Mums with buggies often can't get on as the pram bay is already occupied. I would like to see Hounslow to be a clean, green borough. For this to happen we must offer a decent bus service to encourage the locals to make use of this service."

The Mayor of London has been quizzed on why Transport for London has ample funds, but always seems strapped for cash when improvements are suggested by passengers. Transport bosses have also been asked by Liberal Democrats to act now and improve services in three priority areas in Hounslow:

REDUCE H32 RUSH HOUR DELAYS

Run a new shuttle service during the evening rush hour between Hounslow West tube station and Brent Road in Southall. Passengers can then change onto the 105, 195, 435 to and from Southall. This shuttle would service avoids heavy rush hour congestion on the Bath Rd between Bell Corner and Hounslow West and on Southall's Western Road.

REMOVE LONG WAITS FOR 81 BUSES

More 81 buses and more 81 double deckers have been demanded. These would be targeted in the peak hours especially on the Slough/Hounslow run after 4pm. Harjinder Singh says:

"Waiting times of 45 minutes or more have been endured by passengers."

RELIEVE A4 ROUNDABOUT CONGESTION

Traffic flows on the A4 between Heston and Cranford are being studied by Transport for London (TfL). The Waggoners and Henleys roundabouts and Burns Way are plagued by traffic jams. Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Geoff Pope has written to TfL asking for bus priority measures to be introduced. This would help improve bus routes 81, 222, and H98.