FA James Pickard Local Engagement Manager | Local Communities & Partnerships
Dear James and TfL Have your Say
We met recently at the Barnes Consultation for the Bus Survey. It was so nice to meet you and know that you were listening to our concerns.
I note that there is a superloop expansion survey at the same time as there is a survey on removing bus services in Barnes.
Following the closure of Hammersmith Bridge the community in Barnes have been completely stranded and cut off from the London we used to be so closely linked to. Now to maintain our travel routes for work, services, the hospital, leisure and more, we are reduced to walking over the bridge and on to Hammersmith tube station which takes 20 mins when a bus used to take us all the way there. A reduction in bus services to and from the bridge will exacerbate that travel time. The bridge is the community lifeline to the city and the bus routes are crucial to our livelihoods and to business.
As we are standing next year to represent our community in Barnes as a councillors (with the two other copied above) we spend a lot of time on the doorstep talking to people and I know how cut off so many people feel - especially young people who thrive on travel and getting their professional careers started , and old people are who are less mobile and have to drive to get to the Charing X hospital on the opposite side of the river.
We would like to stress again that our community very much depends on the frequency of the bus services that were put in place when the bridge was closed and we hope that you will reconsider the consultation of reducing the service especially given that there seems to be sufficient investment available to extend the SuperLoop service north of the bridge. The optics of this north south divide is especially sensitive following the ULEZ charges which are mostly paid by those living south of the river who depend on their cars with less available transport and pay for the investment for those north of the river who already have a superior transport system.
The Hammersmith Bridge status is very much back in the spotlight again as the Mayor of London has agreed planning for the Stag Brewery which will shut off the only other route out of Barnes. We very much need to reopen the debate about the future of Hammersmith Bridge being open to public transport, buses and emergency vehicles - as well as in the longer term private vehicles too which has put so much pressure and pollution on surrounding areas.
A further point that we would like to stress is one of security especially to women and girls crossing the bridge at night - many parents tell us how much they worry about their daughters coming back late and with the early winter nights this is a constant worry. We have all seen drugs being exchanged on the bridge and want to remind you of how important it is to maintain policing at this critical crossing point where many criminals feel they are invisible to police. The closure of the bridge has led to a surge of crime and particularly car theft in Barnes where criminal gangs cross and help themselves to cars on a nearly nightly basis (I personally have had 2 cars stolen from outside my house in the last 12 months) . The situation has become so frightening that this has led to a number of neighbourhoods employing private security at night.
It was so good to meet you and thank you for taking the time to listen to our unique geographical perspective on the impact of the bridge closure which has been so devastating for residents in Barnes.
We would very much like to set up a meeting with you - maybe on zoom if that would be easier for you - to hear your thoughts on the above and what you heard from the community through the survey.
Kind regards
Helen Edward
Cllr Candidate for Barnes Ward
