Bus shelters replaced in Heston & Cranford thanks to Liberal Democrat lobbying

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 31st Jul 2006

Local transport facilities have been improved with new bus shelters as a result of campaigning by Liberal Democrat constituency spokesman Satnam Kaur Khalsa.

Two long lost Heston & Cranford bus shelters have finally been replaced by Transport for London (TfL) this month.

Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Liberal Democrat spokesman for Feltham and Heston has been calling since 2004 for the bus shelters on the A4 Bath Road to be replaced. One shelter opposite Waye Avenue was removed when a bus stop was repositioned in 2004. The other near Henlys Roundabout by Travellers Way disappeared in 2005.

Residents complained and Satnam Kaur Khalsa contacted TfL. No action resulted, and at one point TfL could no longer find the bus stop at Travellers way. Eventually Geoff Pope, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Chair, and a senior TfL manager held a site meeting to pinpoint the exact locations, planning applications were submitted, and finally the two shelters were installed - during the hottest month on record.

Better transport facilities are needed to encourage people to switch from cars to public transport.

Satnam Kaur Khalsa said:

"This is a case of better late than never. Waiting for the bus is not always comfortable in windy or rainy conditions. If we are to persuade more people to switch from cars to public transport decent facilities must be provided."

Assembly Member Geoff Pope has lodged a question to London Mayor Ken Livingstone asking how it took two years to install these bus shelters.