235 Bus to Return to GWQ

Lengthy negotiations needed to restore transport link

A damaged bollard preventing the 235 bus from accessing the Great West Quarter (GWQ) development off Ealing Road, Brentford, will finally be fixed following negotiations led by Hounslow Council with developer Barratt Homes and Transport for London (TfL).

For the past four months, the broken bollard has greatly inconvenienced many residents, who had got used to using the new bus service.

The meeting with Barratt Homes and TfL followed an Isleworth and Brentford Area Forum meeting earlier this year at which residents presented a petition asking for the bus route to be reinstated.

However petitioners did acknowledge that others had genuine concerns about buses nosily idling in GWQ’s central Piazza in the early hours of the morning  and leaving unsightly oil stains on the roads.  

At the meetings between TfL, council officers and Barratt Homes last month; it was agreed that the bollard would be fixed and that TfL would  explore the possibility of deep cleaning the Piazza removing the oil stains left by the buses. The council also asked for a cleaner fleet to be considered when the contract to run the 235 bus comes up for renewal in two years’ time.

Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: “A lot of ground was made at the meeting and replacing the bollard is great news for everyone who uses the 235 bus service.

 “It was a condition of the planning permission for the Great West Quarter that Barratt provided new transport links to serve the development and the surrounding area; and it’s imperative this agreement remains in place. 

"I’m grateful for all the hard work of local Brentford ward councillors Guy Lambert, Myra Savin and Melvin Collins for their diligent work on this issue.”

LB Hounslow have been asked to confirm when this will take place.

September 14, 2015