Assorted Bus Issues

One of the Council's Scrutiny Committees is doing an investigation into bus services in the borough. Who knows whether TfL and Mayor Boris will pay any attention to the conclusions, but it can't hurt for the Council to have a clear picture of the issues across the borough.

They've asked ward cllrs to give the committee information about any bus issues in our wards and I've pasted in below what I've sent in so far based on the various complaints and comments I've received over the years (mostly about the 78 which is currently being reviewed by TfL - I've sent my comments on that one direct to TfL as well).

I couldn't think of anything in particular about services in the Queens Rd area - perhaps I don't get complaints about it because it's fairly well served?

Let me know if you think differently or have any other bus issues you would like included in the scrutiny review.

Missing Links
Residents in the centre of Nunhead (around Evelina Rd) would like to have links from the centre to New Cross in the east and to Dulwich Hospital in the west. It is particularly noted that now Dulwich Hospital is the centre for so many health services the hospital really needs better transport links.

78 bus
The 78 route is extremely important as one of only two routes serving the central shopping area (Evelina Rd) of Nunhead. It is also highly valued by residents living in the Dundas Rd area as it is the only bus coming into that residential area. There are a very large number of elderly and disabled people living in that area as there are a number of sheltered housing units as well as social rented housing purpose built for disabled people. There would be an enormous outcry if the route ceased to serve these residential streets.

That said there are significant problems with the route. A particular problem for Nunhead residents is that vehicles are frequently turned around at Peckham Rye and therefore Nunhead residents do not receive the full advertised service frequency - I note this is clearly picked up in the % kms operated performance stats.

The route also suffers from chronic overcrowding in the core section of the route which makes it difficult for residents trying to come home to Nunhead when they are often unable to board the first bus in peak hours. This could be alleviated by providing additional capacity either on the 78 or an alternative route in the core area serving Peckham, Bermondsey and the City.

I also note that the vehicles used on this route are very old and are not the greatest capacity single deckers. I would like to see more modern buses on the route and the use of the slightly longer single deckers would also help reduce the overcrowding.

There has been a suggestion from some residents that 78 could be extended to New Cross (ie continuing up St Mary's Rd, turning right on Queens Rd then down to New Cross). Residents have complained that none of the services through Nunhead provides a quick link up to Queens Rd or New Cross where they can access high frequency rail services and Sainsbury's at New Cross. That said I would not support this proposal if it meant that the 78 ceased to serve the St Mary's Rd/Dundas Rd area.

343 bus
Again this bus provides a vital link - this time for people living in the south of Nunhead. That said residents do complain that the buses frequently speed down Ivydale Road and when these double deckers hit the speed bumps it is extremely noisy. On one occasion a 343 crashed into a parked car and residents fear that someone will be hurt if this speeding continues. I hope that the proposed pinch points for Ivydale Rd will resolve this.

P12 bus
Two complaints about this service really - one is the frequency, particularly around school drop off and collection times. The bus serves the very popular St Francesca Cabrini Primary School and many local parents prefer to take the bus than to drive, but find the P12 service unreliable and overcrowded. The second complaint is speeding on Ivydale Road -something we have taken up repeatedly with TfL but with no success. I hope that the proposed pinch points for Ivydale Rd will resolve this.

484 bus
Nunhead residents have repeatedly asked for this route to actually go into Dog Kennel Hill Sainsburys and use the new bus stop there.