Transport correspondent JEREMY CLACKSON reports that passengers hoping to catch a bus along Wattendon Road might have a very long wait
To the point: the conclusion of TfL’s recent route test drive through Kenley
A new bus route promised by Kenley’s Conservative councillors now seems unlikely to be implemented, according to an internal Transport for London report which has also found another junction on the current 434 route to be “not suitable for bus use”.
The findings of a TfL test drive around the quiet suburban roads of Kenley have been unearthed by the hard-working volunteers at KENDRA, the Kenley and District Residents’ Association. They submitted a Freedom of Information request shortly after Inside Croydon had reported that a planned route change had to be abandoned because of safety concerns with new parts of the route.
What the test drive discovered, however, was that a turn off a junction between Hayes Lane and Park Road – which has been used by buses for decades – is also unsuitable for bus operation.
There had been hopes that some of the issues arising from the safety check might be fixed with some simple adjustments. But there’s no “timescale” given for the required road works being completed.
The Tory councillors who promised to deliver the new bus route for a poorly-served part of their ward have admitted to being “frustrated” by the indefinite delays. But TfL has indicated that changes to the 434 are delayed because Croydon’s Tory-run council has not carried out required road works.
Kenley’s Conservative councillors, Gayle Gander and Ola Kolade, missed the bus earlier this year when they admitted that they didn’t know that their residents were to be by-passed by TfL’s changes to Croydon’s bus routes – until they found out about it on Inside Croydon.
Accident blackspots: how the TfL report highlights two particular problems with the 434 route proposals
Gander and Kolade (notorious for having been accused by three bishops and other church leaders of deliberately misleading voters – or as most people call it: lying) had previously celebrated a route change that would have seen the 434 serve the upper part of Kenley and the valley road and Beverly Road, before going on to Caterham. Between the two of them, Gander and Kolade receive more than £50,000 per year in allowances from Croydon Council supposedly for looking after the interests of the people of Kenley.
Inside Croydon reported in February on a late change of heart from TfL, which has extended the 434 to Caterham but by going directly along the Godstone Road and not serving the upper part of Kenley – despite the councillors having tried to claim credit for a change that has not happened.
The changes to 10 bus routes in and around Croydon and Sutton came in last month. Just not the change that Kenley’s councillors had promised their residents.
In the past week one of Councillor Gander was forced to admit, “I share the frustration caused by the delay in implementing this route and have been actively engaging with both TfL and Croydon Council to facilitate close collaboration to expedite its implementation.”
Yes: “expedite its implementation“, no less.
The route change that never was: the Transport for London notification, showing how the bus route has been altered, without the tricky, tight corners
What Councillor Gander means is that she and her colleague need to get her Tory Mayor, Jason Perry, to spend some money on road improvements, to ease some of the sharper corners on the proposed new route, where the bus drivers’ view of the road ahead is obscured. On one stretch of the road, the TfL report suggests that there are just too many parked cars. Heavens above: they might even need to bring in some parking restrictions, too.
The confidential TfL route assessment report, seen by Inside Croydon, has been drafted following a trial run along the narrow suburban streets of Kenley, and puts the matter succinctly: “FAIL”, it says, in bold, red capital letters.
Kenley and District Residents’ Association has been doing a better job at keeping a closer check on matters than the well-paid elected councillors.
KENDRA cut out the middleman and woman and went directly to TfL, who advised them that, “Please note that this subject remains a live issue. It has not yet been resolved nor do we have an exact date as to when we expect it to be resolved.”
And worryingly, TfL added, “The measures to overcome the sightline issues have not yet been agreed…”, and “There is as yet no agreed timescale.”
In the TfL route assessment report, officials say, “There are two sharp bends causing blind spots on Wattendon Road. If another bus, or other large vehicle, were to meet a 434 in-service while traversing this bend, neither vehicle may be able to proceed without reversing.
“Furthermore, there are no overtaking opportunities on even the straight sections of this road.”
Trial run: the TfL report is well-illustrated with the problems facing bus drivers on the upper Kenley route
There are other issues, too.
“The junction between Park Road and Hayes Lane (on the side closest to Kenley Station) raised concerns. Two vehicles cannot safely pass each other if they meet at this junction; one either has to wait before the junction, or, if they are already traversing the junction, one vehicle must likely reverse to give way.
“This is an issue especially since, when heading towards Coulsdon, if a 434 bus commits to turning onto Hayes Lane from Kenley Lane… it has no choice but to proceed.
“Drivers cannot see whether there is a bus coming from Park Road until they have proceeded beyond the junction.
“Also worth note is that on Kenley Lane, at its junction with Hayes Lane, the give-way markings on the road are faded. These should be repainted to prevent drivers from entering the junction to find a large vehicle passing in the opposite direction from Park Road.” No prizes for guessing which public body might be responsible for road signs and painting here…
And the very suburban nature of this part of the proposed route also presents issues.
“Lack of accessibility due to green verges,” the TfL report notes.
“Along various stretches of the proposed new routeing, there are fewer dropped kerbs, which raised questions among attendees regarding accessibility. Since a significant portion of the route is Hail and Ride, this is something that may need to be addressed.”
And in the TfL report’s conclusions, they said: “While the issue on Higher Drive/Cullesden Road can be mitigated by drivers exercising care and caution, the current risks presented on Wattendon Road and the junction between Hayes Lane and Park Road mean that this routeing cannot be safely traversed.
“Wattendon Road will need to be reviewed in regard to potential parking restrictions being implemented. This will prevent multiple vehicles from obstructing the 434’s potential new line of route.
“This issue will only be exacerbated by the time of day; for example, after the PM peak on a weekday, most residents will have their cars parked on Wattendon Road, at which point it will be even harder for buses to proceed.
“The Hayes Lane/Park Road junction is currently traversed as part of route 434’s normal line of route, so a risk assessment may be necessary, as based on the findings of this test, this junction is not suitable for bus use.”
Which might be a bit of a problem, since buses have been using that corner for around 20 years…
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“This issue will only be exacerbated by the time of day; for example, after the PM peak on a weekday, most residents will have their cars parked on Wattendon Road, at which point it will be even harder for buses to proceed.”
There’s also a primary school around the corner, so even more parking/maneuvering around 8:45am and 3:15pm…
I’m not sure the route map even shows the ‘hill’ route (Foxley Lane, Higher Drive, Cullesden Road, Firs Road, Wattendon Road, Park Road), so are we on plan C now?