west end letters: TfL | debate | Max Neufeld | Penny Abrahams | gridlock

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 6 November 2009

TfL needs to give evidence in this debate
on the buses

• LOCAL people are disappointed you have not deemed Transport for London’s proposal (Penny Abraham’s letter October 30, right), to divert 800 buses a day for
10 months into the streets of Fitzrovia, newsworthy.
Having last June categorically denied the proposition was being considered TfL subsequently refused public consultation on the grounds that there is no alternative.
The alternative rejected by them is to operate the shuttle system where one line of traffic moves at a time. TfL say the resulting eastward tailback is unacceptable. Readers may be surprised TfL are worried by the tailback since they accept daily gridlock west of Oxford Circus.
At a meeting convened by Frank Dobson MP various options were put forward, diverting only non-bus traffic and reducing the number of buses by terminating some routes at Oxford Circus and St Giles Circus, another involved carrying out the services replacement in shorter lengths or a combination of the two.
TfL claimed these had been modelled and didn’t work.
However, to date they have not provided evidence to support their assertion.
The real problem is the arrogance of TfL and the apparent lack of political control.
The proposed diversion of buses into Newman/Goodge streets is not only immensely harmful to the health and amenity of the thousands who live or work there.
It is also not a solution for bus users since it will create gridlock for much of the day.
It is in fact a recipe for storing buses not their onward movement.
TfL must be forced to find the permutation that keeps the buses in Oxford Street by use of the shuttle.
Max Neufeld
Charlotte Street
Association, W1

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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