Alerted to major bus problems by local campaigners, Calvin Bailey MP is taking Wanstead’s issues to Westminster and wants residents affected by W14, W13 and W12 changes to contact him. Donna Mizzi reports
TfL must stop waiting for data and start caring about how its changed bus services are leaving passengers stranded and distraught. That’s the message from local residents, in response to a statement from Calvin Bailey MP.
At a meeting with Mr Bailey to discuss a number of acute problems created by TfL route changes, senior officials only agreed to consider reinstating Wanstead’s Woodbine Place stop for the W14, subject to data. The MP has decided to formally present a petition to parliament. Meanwhile, local councillors insist they won’t move the zebra crossing and island near Wanstead Church School. TfL wanted to enable its new oversized W-buses to turn and miss the most useful stretches of the High Street, including Woodbine Place.
Nightingale Estate residents are starting to demand that “completely out-of-touch” TfL leaders spend time with them to see how lives and health are impacted by the “carelessly planned bus scheme.” They say transport chiefs should witness how schoolchildren wait at bus stops from 7.30am as buses ride past because they are already full; how people with mobility issues can’t reach GPs and vital amenities; how elderly and disabled people and mums with small children can’t wait in the freezing cold for an unreliable once-an-hour bus, or walk along dark and icy side roads for up to a mile to reach their homes.
Save Our Local Bus Services organiser Liz Martins says: “TfL has imposed infrequent, irregular W14 buses that stop too far from useful points.” The campaign urges TfL chiefs to take the advice of South Woodford resident Prof Norman Fenton, a Turing Fellow and data science expert. He said: “Sometimes, all that is needed is common sense.”
Following his meeting with TfL senior officials, Calvin Bailey MP said: “Officials conceded the lack of accurate timetables since the schemes were introduced on 7 September were not good enough… They said they will consider having the W14 stop at Woodbine Place, subject to data through the winter. As with Whipps Cross, they told me there is not enough time in the schedule to make that happen immediately. I want to temper expectations here, if the W14 is to stop at Woodbine Place, we are looking into the new year… However, I remain concerned about the other issues, and am disappointed that TfL has not taken meaningful steps to address them. That is why I will be formally presenting a petition to parliament… It is important that I now hear from constituents. Please contact my office to register your reports and views on this matter. The more voices, the stronger the case will be when I go back to TfL.”
To contact Calvin Bailey MP, email calvin.bailey.mp@parliament.uk, call 020 7219 7417 or post letters to Calvin Bailey MP, House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA.
To read the MP’s full statement, visit wnstd.com/mpbus
