Changes to bus stops in the Ealing Broadway area

Consultation Report October 2014

Changes to bus stops in the Ealing Broadway area Consultation Report

Contents 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 5

2 The consultation ...................................................................................................................... 7

3 Responses from members of the public ................................................................................ 8

4 Analysis of responses ............................................................................................................. 9

5 Responses from statutory bodies and other stakeholders ................................................. 13

Appendix A – All issues raised for Question 8 ........................................................................... 17

Appendix B – List of stakeholders consulted ............................................................................. 17

Appendix C – Consultation Material ............................................................................................ 17

1 Introduction We have been working with Ealing Council to improve the area around Ealing Broadway station, including the pedestrian area in front of the station itself. Some of this work has already started and as part of this we need to make a number of permanent changes to where bus routes stop in and around Ealing Broadway and Haven Green.

In March and April of this year we consulted on our proposed changes to bus stopping arrangements. The consultation ran from 21 March to 2 May.

We are proposing to change stopping arrangements to the following bus routes in the area: 65, 112, 226, 297, E7, E8, E9, E10 and E11.

The map below shows current stopping arrangements:

Changes to the bus stop infrastructure

• The bay on the east side of Haven Green currently used as the last stop for route 65

(stop B) will be removed • The two stops for buses going towards Boston Manor, Northfields or Hanger Lane

(stops F and G) have been merged into one stop (F) • The two stops at the western end of the Haven Green diagonal road (stops Z3 and

Z4) will be merged into one stop • The two stops at the northern end of Haven Green (stops X1 and A) will be merged

into one stop

Proposed changes to where bus routes stop

• Table 1 shows the proposals with changes highlighted in red • Table 2 shows other stops in the area that will not be changing • Table 3 shows how the routes would be grouped together

Table 1: Routes with changes

Route Current Proposed Last stop First stop Last stop First stop 65 B F C C 112 X1 F A F 226 X1 C D D 297 X1 C A Z4 E7 A A X2 F E8 X1 F A F E9 X2 E A E E10 D D A Z4 N11 X1 F A F

Table 2: Routes with no changes

Route Current Proposed Last stop First stop Last stop First stop

E1 (both directions) D D D D

Route Current Proposed E2

(Greenford) E E

E2 (Brentford) F F

N7 (Russell Square)

F F

N7 (Northolt) E E

Table 3: routes in each of the main stopping areas

Bus stopping area

Service group Detailed arrangements Stops removed

‘Northern’ (stops A and X2)

Alighting point for routes 112, 297, E7, E8, E9, E10.

Route E7 will set down at stop X2. All other routes will set down at stop A.

Stop X1 removed

‘Centre’ (stop C)

Route 65 Route 65 will set down and pick up here.

‘Diagonal road’ (stops D, E and Z4)

Services towards Greenford or Perivale

Routes 226 and E1 will set down and pick up at stop D. Routes E2 (Greenford), E9 and N7 (Northolt) will serve stop E. Routes 297 and E10 will pick up at stop Z4.

Stop Z3 removed

‘Southern’ (stop F)

Services towards Boston Manor, Northfields or Hanger Lane

Routes 112, E2 (Brentford), E7, E8, N7 (Russell Square) and N11 will serve stop F.

Stop G (already removed)

Buses will stand between trips at stops C, X2, Z1/Z2 and Z4. This report contains details of the consultation and summarises the responses we received. We have also produced a separate document that specifically deals with issues raised in the consultation.

2 The consultation

The consultation was designed to enable us to understand stakeholder and public opinion about our proposed changes to stopping arrangements in the Ealing Broadway area. The potential outcomes of the consultation are: • We decide the consultation raises no issues that should prevent us from proceeding

with the scheme as originally planned. • We modify the scheme in response to issues raised in consultation • We abandon the scheme as a result of issues raised in the consultation.

2.1 Consultation objectives

The objectives of the consultation were: • To give stakeholders and the public easy to understand information about the

proposals and allow them to respond • To understand the level of support or opposition for the change • To understand any issues that might affect the proposal of which we were not

previously aware • To understand concerns and objections • To allow respondents to make suggestions

2.2 Who we consulted

The consultation intended to seek the views of the general public and stakeholders which included Ealing Council, London TravelWatch, Members of Parliament, Assembly Members, local interest groups and associations. A list of the stakeholders we consulted is shown in Appendix B and their responses are outlined in Section 4.

2.3 Consultation material, distribution and publicity The consultation was published online via our consultation tool. We explained the background to the proposal and asked for any comments that people may have. We sent an email to stakeholders and another email to registered Oyster card users of all the affected bus services. The email included a direct link to the online consultation. The email to registered Oyster users targeted 16, 971 customers. We also publicised the consultation in local bus stops.

3 Responses from members of the public

We received 402 written responses from members of the public. 98 per cent (395) of the responses were online. 2 per cent (7) were received by email or post.

Figure 3.1: How responses were received

The consultation asked eight questions in total (5 general and 3 specific). Of the general questions we asked respondents for their name, email address, post code, and if they were responding on behalf of an organisation. We also asked respondents how they had heard about the consultation (see Figure 3.2).

Table 3.2: Type of source

Received an email from

TfLOther Not

AnsweredThrough

social media

Saw an advert on the TfL website

Read about it in the press

% 82% 11% 2% 1% 1% 1%Number of response 331 46 10 6 5 4

0

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100

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350

Online98%

By post or email

2%

4 Analysis of responses The following three questions specifically asked respondents about the scheme: Question 6: Do you use bus services in the Ealing Broadway and Haven Green area? Question 7: Do you support the changes we have proposed? Question 8: Do you have any further comments? Question 6: Do you use bus services in the Ealing Broadway and Haven Green area? 388 respondents answered this question. Table 4.1 below indicates the result of the answer.

Figure 4.1 Do you use bus services in the Ealing Broadway and Haven Green area? The majority of respondents (96 per cent) indicated that they use bus services in the Ealing Broadway and Haven Green area. 1 per cent of respondents stated they do not use bus services in the area and 4 per cent did not answer this question.

Yes No Not Answered% 96% 1% 4%Number of response 383 5 14

0

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350

400

Question 7: Do you support the changes we have proposed? 396 respondents answered this question. Table 5.2 below indicates the result of the answer. Figure 4.2 Do you support the changes we have proposed? ]

65 per cent of respondents indicated they support the proposed changes. 21 per cent indicated partial support for the proposals. 10 per cent of respondents were opposed to the proposed changes.

Question 8: Do you have any further comments?

Individual comments within every response we received have been coded to one or more codes as appropriate. As respondents mentioned more than one issue, or comment, there are more codes than the total number of respondents. For some issues sub-codes have been created in order to further analyse the responses. The key themes are as follows:

Supportive comments Generally support proposals 80 Location specific comments 297 and/or E10 – Proposed first stops are too far from the station 20

65 - Stop C will be too congested/crowded 13 297 and/or E10 - Should serve Stop C 9 Stop F will be too congested/overcrowded 7 65/E2/E8 - Should have a common stop 6 Ealing Broadway - Too much congestion outside station 4

65 - New drop off point gives easier access to Ealing Broadway 3

65 - New drop off point is now safer 3 E1/E10 - Should have a common stop 3 Haven Green stops - Too much congestion at stops 3

Yes Partly No No opinion Not Answered% 65% 21% 10% 3% 2%Number of response 261 83 41 11 6

0

50

100

150

200

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300

E2/E9 - Need to have better interworking 2 E2/E9/226 - Should have a common stop 2 E7/E9 - Should have a common stop 2 Ealing Broadway - Should have an integrated bus station 2

E1/E7 - Should have a common stop 1 Negative comments Do not move bus stop 15 Opposed with reason 14 Opposed generally 3 General issues Countdown - Need more signs at stops 18 General stand issues - congestion of buses 17 Shelters - Need bigger ones to accommodate passengers 5

65 – Increase frequency 4 E8 - Frequency increase/capacity/double deck 3 112/226 - Do not like proposal/ should keep common stop 3

112 - Frequency increase/capacity/double deck 2 E9/E11 - Withdraw E9/ Extend E11 to Barnhill Estate 2 65 - Extend through to Ham 1 65 - Service issues 1 226 - Poor service 1 E10 - Extend to Chiswick Business Park 1 Other Alternative suggested 22 Not scheme related 7 Not affected by the change 3 Concerns Concerns about people with mobility difficulty 3 Concerns about impact on traffic 2 Concern about safety 1 Concern about the consultation 1

132 responses with 38 issues/ themes were generated from question 8. Table 4.3 below indicates the top five issues raised.

Table 4.3: Top five issues from Question 8: Do you have any other comments?

Top five issues Number of comments

Support 80

Alternative suggestions 22

297 and/or E10- New first stop is too far from the station 20

Countdown and more signs are required at stops 18

Congestion of buses at bus stops 17

The most frequent mentioned comment was “support” (80). The respondents highlighted they supported the proposed changes. There were 22 comments in which the respondents suggested alternative plans. Many suggested more buses must have a common bus stop to improve interchange between services. 18 respondents also highlighted the need for more information to be provided at bus stops including signs and countdown display. Many respondents (17) mentioned congestion of buses at bus stops.

There were 82 comments on specific bus routes. Route E10 was the most frequently mentioned service and the majority of comments concerned the distance of the proposed bus stop from the station. There were 32 issues generated on route 65. The most frequently mentioned comment was about congestion at stop C if the proposals went ahead.

There were 29 comments raised on route 297. Most frequently raised comment was about the distance from the station of the proposed bus stop for 297 and E10. Table 4.4 lists the number of comments raised per route.

5 Responses from statutory bodies and other

stakeholders We received 5 responses from stakeholders identified by Question 3 (If responding on behalf of an organisation, business or campaign group, please provide us with the name). Their responses are below. Ealing Council are supportive of the proposals. We did not receive a response from London Travelwatch. Jake Mroczek - Ealing Mencap Travel Training I work with a charity teaching young people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties how to travel independently on public transport. Our only concern at the moment is ensuring that our students/ your SEN passengers are aware of all the changes in advance as major changes such as the ones affecting Ealing at the moment may be stressful for our students and may increase there chances of getting lost. Please let us know how we can keep ourselves better informed of the changes affecting Ealing so we can better support our students. Mike Tyzack - Ealing Friends of the Earth I disagree with using Z4 & Z3 for bus stops. It is too far to walk from the station. There is enough capacity to get routes 297 & E10 stopping at stops D & E Julian Edmonds - Central Ealing Residents' Association (CERA) The majority of CERA’s members live within walking distance of Haven Green and many are regular users of local bus services.Equally importantly in the context of the consultation, they are frequently on foot in the area. Pedestrian movement on the pavement on the east side of Haven Green is often badly obstructed especially at present occurring at 2 stops: C and F. The 112 service has already been moved to stop F with a noticeably adverse effect, as increased numbers of waiting passengers are causing yet more pavement obstruction. The proposal to have the E7’s first stop at F would exacerbate this obstruction. Different services arriving simultaneously at stop F as already often happens, give rise to 2 problems:

• The last bus(es) obstruct the pedestrian crossing outside Ealing Broadway station • Only the leading bus has passengers actually boarding at stop F whilst others

open their doors and require boarding away from the stop. This causes particular difficulties for disabled passengers and those with shopping, luggage, or pushchairs.

If the E7 is to continue to layover at Haven Green, we believe it would be much better if it also picked up passengers at the less congested stop X2, as in the present arrangement at stop A. Pavement widening (not referred to in the consultation) is essential to improve conditions for bus passengers and pedestrians alike along the full length of the east side of Haven Green.

Possibilities relating to the West Ealing station area should be considered to divert some routes to call and / or layover by the station to connect here with Crossrail and so reduce bus and passenger congestion at Haven Green. Monitoring of air quality over a number of years on and around Haven Green shows WHO safety guidance levels consistently exceeded. CERA considers that this can only be improved by substantially reducing the number of buses circulating or parking in the area. John Gashion - Ealing Passenger Transport Users Group 1. With the removal of stop X1 but retention of stop A. X2 and C, we feel there will be

more buses than available kerb space in front of the row of shops between Madley Road and the station. Route 65 alone can often have three buses on the stand at stop C at the same time. Although it is not stated it appears that route E7 will set down AND STAND at stop X2, also likely to have more than one bus on stand at peak times. The remaining stop on that section, Stop A will have five routes setting down at it: 112, 297, E8 E9, E10. This is an average of 27.4 buses peak hour; and the paper I have (I enclose a copy) does not tell me where these routes are going to stand! Are they all going to stand at bus stop A as well? Once all these buses have been accommodated along that section of road perhaps someone from TfL or Ealing Council can tell us how the traders on that section of Haven green are going to receive deliveries? For the above reasons we do not think this re-arrangement will be of benefit to anyone except the firms who erect bus stops and shelters, and mark the highway. Routes have got to be extended from Ealing, Haven Green to cure the problem, and Ealing council must grant planning permission and fund crew toilet facilities, if they do not already exist, at the new terminal points.

2. In line with the above we will say that Route 112, covers the same route from Hanger Lane gyratory to Ealing Broadway as the 83, should be diverted from Hanger Lane at North Ealing to Ealing Broadway by way of Madley Road and extend from Ealing Broadway less than one mile to the University of West London in South Ealing Road where there is a room to stand on the two lane dual carriageway section and a very wide Central reservation to facilitate turning, just south of the university building. Toilet facilities would also be available in the building for most of the day.

3. There are also possibilities, although not ideal, for buses to turn and stand on the slip road at the Uxbridge road, Hanger Lane junction within walking distance of Ealing Common station.

Gregory Thomas Phelan - Friends of Haven Green With regard to the consultation: The consultation documents are not very clear in explaining just what the changes are trying to do, nor what time frame will be involved. This is very important given other plans now being consulted on for Ealing Broadway station. What new or changed bus routes will there be because of Crossrail? The main purpose of the consultation appears to be to reduce the number of bus waiting areas around Haven Green.

In theory this is a very good thing, especially if it can be achieved by reducing the number of buses whose routes start and terminate in and around the Green. On the other hand it does seem that more routes are stopping at fewer bus stops, especially stop F. This is likely to lead to a big build of passengers waiting around the bus stop, forcing pedestrians to have to walk around them sometimes into the road. Reducing the number of bus stops is also likely to create congestion on the street when buses on different routes arrive together and have to queue for their turn to alight/pick up passengers. There are no mention of layovers. Presently route 65 lays over on the turn-in to the west. The/E7/E9 layover at stop A. The E1 lays over at D to be accompanied by the 226. Do we expect time-table changes and frequency to change with Crossrail? There is no mention of the routes operated by non TFL buses using the green. We refer to UWL ,SKY, WESTB US, NKM. They are not mentioned within the consultation document for frequency, stops or layovers. UWL (University of West London) now operate a timetable between 07.40 and 20.25 in both directions Initially there were 36 schedule stops on the green but which this year has increased to 47. This vehicle actually lays over either at stop D causing friction with the E1 or across the pedestrian pathway route which crosses the green, ignoring the double yellow lines, seriously inconveniencing pedestrians and possibly causing an accident. SKY Operate a timetable from 07.25 until11.05 and from 16.20 to 20.00.A total of 24 daily stops on the green. The SKY website states that the vehicles will halt outside the SHANAKEE pub or further along if busy. This conflicts with the layover space for the E1. WESTBUS operate a 50 seater school coach daily which stops at X1. Inspectors have had to move these coaches on from the X1 stop. NKM MINIBUSES operates 3 times daily from a school in Hillingdon to the Broadway. They drop off outside the Polish Deli on the corner of the diagonal. If no space is available they move onto the yellow lines further down. They can cause congestion for buses turning. We understand that TFL are aware of these routes. Inspectors have told us that UWL/SKY/WESTBUS all cause problems because they are unregulated. We would appreciate some guidance as to the procedures which allow these routes to commence. Are they subsidised? Who manages their performance and contracts? Who has an oversight as to the number and frequency of these unregulated operations? It should also be noted that tour companies were last summer operating a coach service to the Chinese restaurant opposite stop F. This vehicle then layed over on the double yellow outside the restaurant. Without oversight and control Haven Green looks likely to become an unregulated bus station which would cause additional timetable deficiencies for TFL operators and create added pressure on the green. The additional passengers Crossrail is likely to generate will only exacerbate this problem. We understand that negotiations concerning layovers have taken place but we are unaware of the outcome.

Unless previously considered may we add a suggestion with regard to the E1 route. At West Ealing station we understand Network rail have considered reinstating the sidings which served the Post Office sorting office in Manor road. This will enable the Greenford branch line to start and stop at West Ealing. The land adjacent to the sidings is sufficient to create a bus standing area. This could be used to cater for the north south routes E7/E11over Drayton Bridge road as well as allow the southbound E1 to continue onto Manor road rather than turning left into Sutherland Avenue. An adequate turning area should be feasible at Manor road such that the E1 could then continue onto Ealing Broadway. With the advent of Crossrail there are possible benefits in that at peak periods passenger volumes at Ealing Broadway could be mitigated by a proportion of the E1 users alighting at West Ealing. It might also be possible to avoid some buses(E7/E1) having to layover on Haven Green.

Appendix A – All issues raised for Question 8

Supportive comments Generally support proposals 80 Location specific comments 297 and/or E10 – Proposed first stops are too far from the station 20

65 - Stop C will be too congested/crowded 13 297 and or E10 - Should go from Stop C 9 Stop F will be too congested/overcrowded 7 65/E2/E8 - Should have a common stop 6 Ealing Broadway - Too much congestion outside station 4

65 - New drop off point gives easier access to Ealing Broadway 3

65 - New drop off point is now safer 3 E1/E10 - Should have a common stop 3 Haven Green stops - Too much congestion at stops 3 E2/E9 - Need to have better interworking 2 E2/E9/226 - Should have a common stop 2 E7/E9 - Should have a common stop 2 Ealing Broadway - Should have an integrated bus station 2

E1/E7 - Should have a common stop 1 Negative comments Do not move bus stop 15 Opposed with reason 14 Opposed generally 3 General issues Countdown - Need more signs at stops 18 General stand issues - congestion of buses 17 Shelters - Need bigger ones to accommodate passengers 5

65 - Frequency increase 4 E8 - Frequency increase/capacity/double deck 3 112/226 - Do not like proposal/ should keep common stop 3

112 - Frequency increase/capacity/double deck 2 E9/E11 - Withdraw E9/ Extend E11 to Barnhill Estate 2 65 - Extend through to Ham 1 65 - Service issues 1 226 - Poor service 1 E10 - Extend to Chiswick Business Park 1 Other Alternative suggested 22

Not scheme related 7 Not affected by the change 3 Concerns Concerns about people with mobility difficulty 3 Concerns about impact on traffic 2 Concern about safety 1 Concern about the consultation 1

Appendix B – List of stakeholders consulted London Travelwatch

Elected Members Caroline Pidgeon AM Darren Johnson AM Gareth Bacon AM Jenny Jones AM Murad Qureshi AM Nicky Gavron AM Andrew Boff AM Victoria Borwick AM Tom Copley AM Stephen Knight AM Fiona Twycross AM Onkar Sahota AM Angie Bray MP Ealing Central and Acton Virendra Kumar Sharma MP Ealing Southall Stephen Pound MP Ealing North Bassam Mahfouz Cllr Ealing Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport

Local Authorities London Borough of Ealing London Borough if Hillingdon

Police & Health Authorities London Fire and Emergency Authority London Fire Brigades Metropolitan Police

Transport Groups Association of British Drivers British Motorcyclists Federation Freight Transport Association Green Flag Group Motorcycle Industry Association Motorcycle Action Group AA Motoring Trust AA Public Affairs

Association of Car Fleet Operators Road Haulage Association London Cycling Campaign (Ealing) CTC, the national cycling charity Ealing Passenger Transport Users' Group

Other Stakeholders Age Concern London Age UK Asian Peoples Disabilities Alliance BT Central Ealing Residents' Association Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Disability Alliance Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee Ealing Friends of the Earth Ealing Mencap Travel Training EDF Energy Friends of Haven Green Greater London Forum for the Elderly Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People (JCMBPS) Joint Mobility Unit Living Streets London Ambulance Service NHS Trust London City Airport London Councils London Older People's Strategy Group London Underground Medway Estate Residents' Forum MIND National Children's Bureau National Grid Norwood Green Residents' Association Port of London Authority RADAR London Access Forum RNIB RNID Royal Mail Royal Parks Save Ealing Centre Sixty Plus Stroke Association Sutton Centre for Voluntary Sector Thames Water The British Dyslexia Association West London Alliance West Twyford Residents' Association

Appendix C – Consultation material Local bus stop notice:

Oyster email: