No Bus here! Victory for Chadwell residents!

Residents were concerned about recent proposed extensions to the 499 Bus route which would traverse in a loop from East Road, along Havering Gardens, down Hathaway Gardens and them back to East Road via Tolworth Gardens. They were worried about the increase in anti-social behaviour that would be induced by the location of a permnaent Bus Stop near the Havering Gardens/Hathaway Gardens Corner. The increased danger to local children travelling to Grove Primary and St Bedes school and the potential for road accidents in an area with tight corners and parking on both sides of the road.

Local residents formed an action group called the "Residents Against Transport Scheme" (RATS). They asked Wilson Chowdhry of the Chadwell Labour Action Team for his assistance and he duly prepared a petition obtaining over 200 signatures. He delivered this petition to May's Area 5 Commmitte and presented residents concerns to the incumbent Councillors in attendance. Wilson highlighted a recent Bus route extension of the 362 Route that led to significant unease for local residents. The 499 route extension scheme had originally been proposed for Jarrow Road and a consultation had taken place which had resulted in the Area 5 Councillors rejecting the proposals. The Area 5 Councillors agreed to place these concerns before TFL and Wilson attended a Public Transport Liasion Committee Meeting on June 17th. At the meeting Wilson again presented the concerns of local residents and submitted an 80 signature petition provided by RATS. TFL agreed to review the information provided and confirmed that they had not undertaken the requisite pre-consultation with residents. They confirmed that prior to any progression of this project a consultation would take place. However in the wave of such vehemence to the project on September 25th at the next Public Transport Liasion Committee Meeting TFL confirmed the proposals for this extension have finally been terminated.

Wilson Chowdhry says: "I am pleased that TFL (London Buses) have finally ended their absurd extension to route 499 . Local resident concerns are based on simple health and safety implications that should have been raised up in TFLs initial design brief. How could they make such an omission not once but twice, in failing to undertake the requisite pre-consultation? This result is one I am really pleased with"