Cash 'honeypot' bus lane plan in Hartfield Road, Wimbledon, put on hold

Merton Council wants to reintroduce a bus lane in Hartfield Road, in Wimbledon town centre, which would mean car users would only be able to use a single lane when driving past Morrison’s car park on the one-way system during morning and evening rush hours.

Councillor David Dean, an opposition Conservative member for Dundonald ward, said the process had stalled because there had not been a proper consultation with residents.

Coun Dean said: “All that the council did was put up an A4 sign on a lamppost, which no car driver would be able to see, so it’s not surprising they had no responses.

“We proved the 93 bus was actually slowed down when there was a bus lane there before.

“It’s also dangerous for people wanting to turn left into Beulah Road because they have to cut across the buses.

“They only want to bring it back because it’s a honeypot and brings in a load of cash.”

Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon, also criticised the proposals: "Of course the council should help provide sustainable transport but this bus lane won't do that.

"It will also hinder safety and if the council undertook a proper consultation with residents they would find no support for it."

A council scrutiny panel will now look at the proposals in October and decide whether there has been enough consultation with residents.

The Labour-run council’s cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor Andrew Judge, instructed council officers in May to begin a consultation on bringing back the bus lane, which was created in 1995 and in 2002 was made illegal to use during the day by motorists.

But it was removed in 2008 by Coun Judge’s predecessor, Councillor William Brierly, who said it “imposed unreasonable traffic distortion” and brought in hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

Speaking from the Labour party conference in Liverpool yesterday, Coun Judge said the Conservatives in power had removed the bus lane as an "act of political will against the advice of officers".

He said: "There were no negative responses from the consultation and people in Dundonald ward would have definitely known about it because the Conservative councillors told them.

"They have called it in on the basis that I didn't consult, but I actually walked down Hartfield Road with a Conservative councillor, Chris Edge, to talk to members of the public.

"It is actually a shorter bus lane than the previous one, so if this was just about money we would have just put in the old bus lane."

What do you think? Leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6335 or email: ooakes@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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