Lister on Putney

Bus services in the area, Justine Greening & Heathrow plus the Olympic success........

Following pressure from the council London Buses will shortly announce plans to improve frequencies on the 485 service linking Putney to Barnes.

Consultation will start later this month on a new half-hourly service running throughout the day from 7am to 7pm. The revamped 485 would provide a direct link from Wandsworth to Putney and Hammersmith via Barnes Pond, Castlenau and Hammersmith Bridge.

The current service, which runs to Richmond, only operates hourly on an off peak schedule.

People in Putney have long lamented the lack of a bus link to Barnes. The council will welcome the enhanced service while continuing to press for a full 18 hour schedule including Sundays.

There is also good news about the 37 bus. A separate proposal will see this service extended from Putney Station to the Green Man on Putney Heath. This would mean the end for the current stand in St John's Avenue.

Good to see our new MP taking the fight to the Government on their plan to remove the cap on early morning arrivals at Heathrow.

Justine Greening's speech at the Second Reading of the Civil Aviation Bill drew attention to this worrying relaxation of controls which is not mentioned in the current Department for Transport consultation on night flight restrictions

Finally warm congratulations to all those who made the London Olympics bid a success. Local facilities which could be used as training camps for national teams include the Barn Elms playing fields which are run by the council.

The long-promised transport projects which were such a key part of the bid must now include significant benefits for people in south west London. Improvements to services through Clapham Junction are a clear priority and are needed long before 2012..

Edward Lister

elister@wandsworth.gov.uk

Edward Lister is the Leader of Wandsworth Council and a member for Putney's Thamesfield ward.