Agenda item

Councillor Eddie Lavery attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor on the petition.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·        The Lead petitioner presented a survey conducted on 13th October which showed the low usage of the bus and stop.

·        None of the boarders or alighters were disabled.

·        Green Lawns had 22 flats and 11 parking spaces, These were full by 5.15 pm on the 13^th October.

·        Residents of Green Lawns should be consulted as they had not previously received letters.

·        There are 50 flats and about 36 parking spaces on the north side of Southbourne Gardens before No.60 and 18 properties on the South side before No.60.

·        Stop No.1 has already taken some spaces and parking on this stop is not allowed at night and would suggest this should be changed.

·        The bus has to stop outside No.62 on most occasions to allow traffic to pass. This is the obvious place for a fixed stop if one is required at all.

·        Drainage was not an issue as stated in the report as there was a low wall outside No. 62. the curve in the road also makes for a safer location.

·        There are many elderly and infirm tenants, mothers with children, and tenants that have infirm parents who need to park outside the flats when they visit.  They also have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act to park outside their flats.

·        The bus starts at 6.30am not 7am as suggested in the report.

·        There was a dial-a-ride bus service available.

·        Is this bus stop really needed, as residents living in the area don’t want it and was it cost effective.

·        Southbourne Gardens was a speed trap and was awkward for the bus to negotiate the road.

·        Bus stop 1 blocks peoples drives and Field End Road due to the proximity to the junction.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  The petitioners were advised that TfL had been contacted in regard to the viability of the route. Although the usage was low in their view the route is still viable running a half hourly service.  

The Cabinet Member advised that a letter of support for the bus stop had been received from DASH.  Under the DDA the Council and TfL are under a duty to consider the request.  This is a difficult issue as clearways need to be provided to enable buses to deploy ramps to enable access to disabled people.  Because of the concerns raised and the need to meet the DDA requirements the Cabinet Member agreed to recommendation 1 and recommendation 2a in the report to enable a site visit to take place involving all interested parties. 

RESOLVED - That the Cabinet Member:

1.      Met with petitioners to discuss the concerns they had and to explain the Councils’ obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA);

      2.  Defer the implementation of the bus stop pending further study and consultation with local residents and disabled groups.

Reasons for recommendation

The Council has responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (‘DDA’) (as amended) to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people and consequently it is unlawful for a Council to discriminate against disabled persons in connection with the provision of services. It also allows the Government to set minimum standards so that disabled people can use public transport easily. TfL has identified its required route; officers have installed stops that are compliant with DDA standards.

Alternative options considered

The only alternative which could retain a bus stop here would be to relocate bus stop No 2 to a point outside No 68 Southbourne Gardens; however this option was not considered to be an acceptable option by the Police and London Buses.