Fleur Anderson Launches Campaign for Improved Bus Services
Starts petition calling for improvements on the 85 and 170 route
Fleur Anderson with an 85 bus
August 30, 2024
Fleur Anderson is asking local residents to sign her bus petition and share experiences of taking the bus in Putney.
The Labour MP for Putney has launched the campaign to address issues surrounding bus services in Putney, Wandsworth Town, Roehampton and Putney Vale.
She says she has received numerous complaints about delays, overcrowding, and inconsistent service, particularly on the 170 and 85 bus routes. These issues are particularly impactful in Roehampton and Putney Vale, an area with no nearby tube or rail stations, making reliable bus services essential.
Ms Anderson met last week with the Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance, Transport for London (TfL) officials and local councillors to discuss her campaign and this Thursday (29 August)mvisited Putney Bus Garage to meet with drivers, bus company directors and transport network experts to relay resident experiences and talk about ways to gain improvements for passengers.
She said afterwards, “We are extremely reliant on buses in Putney. Too many local residents have gotten in touch with me to say buses don’t show up, are delayed or are extremely overcrowded. So I’m campaigning on the 85 – getting a more frequent service – and to make the 170 a double decker to Clapham Junction. But I’m also asking bus companies and TfL to look at a range of buses and work out how they can end passengers’ frustrations – including the 493, 430, 265 and the 337.
“I want to hear residents’ experiences with the buses so do sign the petition on my website and email me about any issues you’re having at fleur.anderson.mp@parliament.uk. It’s really important we have as many signatures on the petition as possible to show TfL that passengers are being let down by the current bus service.”
Outside Putney Bus Garage with Councillor Jenny Yates, Cabinet Member for Transport, and local bus driver Getaneh Tesfaye
The petition calls on Transport for London (TfL) to enhance the frequency and reliability of the 85 bus route, which is crucial for residents in Putney Vale and Roehampton, and for turning the 170 bus into a double-decker service from Roehampton to Clapham Junction to alleviate overcrowding and reduce delays. Local councillors added their calls for an improved bus service in Roehampton.
Ms Anderson continued, “Our community deserves better. We managed to save bus routes 14 and 74 from cuts when they were under threat, by showing the strength of local support for our campaign. Now, we must take further action to ensure that routes like the 85 are not only preserved but also improved.
“It was brilliant to meet with the Deputy Mayor for Transport and his team, and with bus drivers and transport network specialists at Putney Bus Garage yesterday to listen to their thoughts on the campaign. There are lots of moving parts in campaigning for better buses so it’s important to bring together everyone involved to provide passengers with the service they deserve."
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