Dorset Square
We have contacted the Council and asked that action be taken to resolve this long-standing issue:
“I live on Dorset Square and an issue that was meant to be resolved but hasn’t is that the coaches that stop outside Dorset Square play a very loud recorded sound when they stop and this happens throughout the night and in the early morning. The two sounds are linked to the indicator (“This vehicle is turning left”… even though it’s stationary) and the other linked to the luggage hold when the door opens. The main coach operator is National Express. Surely, they can disable the sound at night? Or a simple solution is that rather than use the left indicator they can use the hazard lights?”
The Highways Team say:
“A left indicator audible warning that is specified to warn any following cyclists to hold back if the vehicle is undertaking a left turn – stating ‘Caution vehicle turning left’. For the Dorset Square Bus Stop, TfL had an agreement with National Express to instruct its drivers to not keep the left indicator on when the coach is stopped at the bus stop. We will ask TfL to renew this instruction”
“A side locker door audible warning that activates every time the locker doors open or close. TfL and National Express had previously carefully considered a request to enable the driver to disable this safety feature. But careful consideration of this demand concluded that it would be unwise due to wider safety concerns for those placing luggage in the lockers or other pedestrians on the footway. This position was supported by the City Council on balance of the pros and cons”
Seymour Leisure Centre
Residents have contacted us following the Council’s decision to close the Seymour Leisure Centre in the mornings. Residents say:
“A group of us are members of an Over 50’s Aqua Class on Tuesday 10.30am & Thursday 11.30am. The classes are very important to many of us in the group and our Mental Health. Lots of the group live on the own including me”
“Seymour has the highest proportion of older people using the pool. Many older people cannot practice other forms of cardio exercise due to joint issues, and swimming may be our only way to get a good workout. This is particularly important now when it is known that exercise boosts the immune system for older people in particular, and when overweight people are at higher risk of Covid complications. In addition, exercise has a huge positive impact on mental health.”
We are trying to persuade the Council to reverse their decision here and at other Leisure Centres where the hours of opening have been cut.
414 Bus Route
TfL is proposing to change route 414 so that it terminates at Marble Arch instead of Maida Hill. TfL say:
“We are proposing this change as there is significant extra bus capacity between Marble Arch and Maida Hill. Route 6 duplicates the section of route 414 between Marble Arch and Maida Hill. The frequency of routes 414 and 6 is a bus every 7-8 minutes. At the busiest point of the routes, Edgware Road, eight buses per hour are required to meet the current passenger demand. We are providing 15 currently. The number of passengers does not warrant this number of buses. For the number of people traveling through the area only buses every 7-8 minutes are required. Route 6 already runs with buses every 7-8 minutes. All current journeys taken by passengers on route 414 can be completed by changing buses to route 6.”
TfL would like to know what impact the proposed changes may have on your journey. Please complete the online survey below by Friday 20 November 2020.
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/route-414/consultation/subpage.2017-09-07.2118848556/
You can also email TfL at: consultations@tfl.gov.uk or write to TfL at FREEPOST TFL CONSULTATIONS (Ref: Route 414 changes)