Forum Topic

Buses in Acton High street

since the reorganisation of the High Street we  have lost one bus stop, three stops have been moved, and we have no shelters, seats of indicators.  I have been trying to get a reply out of TFL since 20 June and have at last received the following: 'Despite appearances, the work in the area has not been finished. Ealing Council have changed the plans a few times, and the building of new shelters to accompany the stops has, unfortunately, been delayed. Trial digs need to be completed soon, then the new shelters can be built. There are currently a number of issues still outstanding with the Council regarding modifications to underground services to support the shelter foundations. We are awaiting clarification of what is being done and when; but we can assure you that we will be replacing the shelters that are presently missing. We are not as yet able to say whether the one bus stop that was removed will be replaced' This has been going on for at least three months, and for those of us with mobility problems there is considerable difficulty in getting around.  Any ideas as to who should be contacted to get things moving?

Nina Battleday ● 4424d14 Comments

Head of Transport for Ealing is Nick O'Donnell. I expect they have a communication person who could keep us informed.

Maire Lowe ● 4424d

Thanks for this Maire.  Got a speedy and helpful response from Ealing - apparently the problem is with some scaffolding on the front of a shop which is where the Old Town hall stop is now sited.  TFL won't put in new shelters, seats and indicators until they can do all of them in the high street, and they can't do it while the scffolding is there.  The person I spoke to at Ealing reckoned another three or four weeks.  I suggested we shouldn't hold our breath!

Nina Battleday ● 4424d

Acton High Street is so narrow yet they somehow managed to have special lanes for cyclists, plus the funny little mini roundabout at Market Place, soon there won't even be room for busses along that stretch of road!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4424d

What's wrong with special lanes for cyclists?

Ben Smith ● 4424d

There is not a dedicated cycling lane but there are cycle markers in the middle of the road! There used to be three lanes through Acton to make traffic flow better but instead we got wider pavements and two lanes such that there are constant queues through the high street. Not sure who is planning all this nonsense but it certainly doesn't work.

Henrik Rasmussen ● 4424d

I'll definitely be writing to Mr O'Donnell. Poor organisation and no notice of when bus stops will be out of use.

Ana Strachan ● 4424d

Too many drivers are ignoring the mini roundabouts as well. Signalling to turn right to go behind the Town Hall the other morning, I almost went straight into some 4X4 coming west along the High Street who totally failed to give way to me. Mind you, most 4X4 drivers seem to think they have right of way at all times.

Susan Kelly ● 4424d

I have absolutely no problem with special lanes for cyclists, all I said was that Acton High Street is so narrow now that there is really not much room for busses or for the free flow of traffic!By making the pavement wider the road is now more congested.I wonder if the planners have lost the plot?

Jean F Fernandez ● 4424d

And just think we nearly had a tram !

Bob Crossley ● 4424d

I think the whole thing is an absolute mess and waste of money. The no right turn (coming into Acton) at the Red Lion and Pineapple forced lots of traffic down nearby residential streets. They have now put access only signs on these residential streets so drivers risk penalty notices if they ignore these. I can only assume that the planners have the totally unrealistic expectation that drivers wanting to go down Gunnersbury Lane will go round the roundabout and come back to make the left turn instead? I can't really see what all of this work has achieved.

Andy Oram ● 4423d

Andy - it seems to have caused difficulties for car drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, bus passengers etc.  But I bet someone has made a nice little earner out of it!

Nina Battleday ● 4423d

As a pedestrian I can't say it's caused me any difficulty.  As a cyclist I try to avoid the high street, but it looks like they've made they horn lane roundabout better for cyclists.  As a bus passenger I can't say I find a problem - you cannot eliminate congestion on the high street, it's too busy and narrow.  The best way to cut congestion is to get more people to walk, cycle or use buses.

Ben Smith ● 4423d

Thanks Nick - when you, like me, find walking difficult, you'll understand my problem!  Would love to be able to walk more, but can't do it now.

Nina Battleday ● 4423d

No offense intended, that's why I said more people should use buses (as I do) to reduce congestion.

Ben Smith ● 4423d