Kew Bridge Bus Lane Removed

12.00.00am GMT Tue 30th Sep 2003

The bus lane over Kew Bridge has been removed after sustained pressure from local residents, the three Kew Councillors and the Council. The bus lane, opened in spring 2002, is to be removed by Transport for London (TfL). There are no plans at present to reinstate it.

The campaigners protested that the bus lane had failed to ease congestion problems, had not helped the buses and had, indeed, contributed to traffic snarl-ups. This was admitted by London Buses at a meeting of the Council's Transport Consultative Group who had to admit that buses had actually been slowed down by the Bus Lane.

Kew Lib Dem Councillor, Serge Lourie, said; "I am delighted that the Kew Bridge bus lane is being removed. It has been a disaster, was based on inadequate research and actually slowed down buses for much of the day. As a strong supporter of bus lanes and a regular bus user, I strongly believe that Transport for London should really have done proper research before introducing this disaster."

"I should like to pay tribute to the small group of residents who campaigned against the bus lane and collected the 1800 signatures on the petition I presented to the Council earlier this year. This is a real community victory and thanks are due to everyone who has been involved"

Fellow Lib Dem Kew Councillor, Tony Barnett, said "This bus lane was an absurdity and it is to TfL's credit that they have seen the error of their ways and removed the bus lane. Local residents will be delighted."