No to bus lanes (From Ealing Times)

No to bus lanes

9:51am Thursday 17th July 2003

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ANGRY residents campaigning for the removal of bus lanes in Northolt took their fight to City Hall yesterday.

A 4,000-signature petition to axe bus lanes in Northolt, which have been blamed for causing congestion and misery for residents, was handed to London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Ealing councillor Glenn Murphy, who is backing the residents, believes it is time for bus lanes to be removed as they have not worked.

He said: "The bus lanes in Northolt have been a complete failure. They were put in place in June last year and the congestion problems have just got worse and worse.

"Transport for London, which agreed the bus lanes, said they were part of an 18-month traffic order and will be removed if there are problems. This is clearly the case and we are asking for them to be removed now."

More than 100 residents gathered for a special protest at the Target Roundabout in Northolt on Monday to show their concerns.

Linda Koupparis, chairman of the Danemead Grove Residents' Association, wants Mr Livingstone to listen to their concerns and do something about them now.

She said: "The quality of life for the people of Northolt since last June is zero. We hope this petition will make Ken listen. There have been accidents because of the bus lanes and because of all the congestion the pollution is higher than it has ever been."

Bernard Furzer, chairman of the Northolt Village Residents' Association, said: "What I want is sanity. This is crazy. We don't need bus lanes in Northolt. The traffic is caused because of them. This, we don't need."

The bus lanes, were put in place by Transport for London as part of Mr Livingstone's scheme to encourage more use of buses. But the measures have forced the traffic to squeeze into one lane causing a huge build up of traffic at peak times and residents being penalised for driving on a bus lane as they try to get in and out of their drives.

Michael Lennon, who lives on Petts Hill, says he has to fight through the traffic just to get out of his drive.

He said: "This is out of order. I can't get in and out of my home and I have to risk being fined just to do that. Nobody asked us if we wanted the bus lanes and I am very angry."

Richard Barnes, GLA member for Ealing, is also backing the residents.

He said: "The evidence is before us. It is a total congestion and pollution nightmare. There are minimal bus passengers and the bus lanes just make peoples lives hell around here.

"The trial has failed and Ken needs to recognise it has failed."

However, Mr Livingstone believes the bus lanes are working. He said: "I, my officers at Transport for London and officers and councillors in Ealing are aware of the concerns being raised by the residents of Northolt regarding the bus lanes installed on Mandeville Road, Yeading Lane, Petts Hill and Church Road.

"Initial indications are that these bus lanes are working. Officers from TfL and the Borough of Ealing are working together looking at the concerns raised by local residents and how they should be addressed."

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