Bus stop closed by redevelopment provokes fury in Willesden Green

Willesden Green residents are furious that a bus stop has been closed at the site of Willesden Green Library development, the centre of Willesden Green, leaving them with a long walk from the next alternative bus stop.

Local resident Martin Redstone wrote to the council officer who managed the development application:

I am writing to express my concern about the disppearance of the 52 bus stop outside the (Willesden Green Library) building site. The first I heard of it was when the bus intoned 'the next bus stop is closed' leading to the realisation that there is no bus stop between Sidmouth Parade and Hawthorn Road.

This is a distance of more than one kilometre.

Of course when we were debating the scheme to build 93 luxury flats on the  library, many people stated that they were concerned about disruption during the building works, these concerns were swept aside as were the concerns of local shoppers about the loss of their municipal car park.

Once again the needs of the local community (who actually live and work here) have been swept aside for the convenience of the developers constructing flats to be sold to foreign investors who are not concerned about the needs of local key workers and other nearby community members who rely on a a convenient public transport system.

The office replied that the complaint would be forwarded to the council's highways department but ultimately it was the responsibility of Transport for London. The officer was no longer working on the project.

Redston responded that the council did not care once the project had been steamrollered through and that residents had been treated with nothing but contempt throughout. He concluded, 'You don't have to live with the mess. We do.'

Another local resident, Mrs Mc said:

It is totally crazy.  Some buses do stop just before they turn up Staverton Road but others just drive past people trying to stop them.  It is a long walk up to the stop at Sidmouth parade if you are with children, shopping, elderly etc.  Why can't they just put a temporary one a few metres along Brondesbury Road avoiding the roadworks outside the site entrance.  There is no logical reason why they couldn't.

I went along to have a look for myself this afternoon. The bus stop that was resited for the building works was closed with instructions to passengers to walk to the next stop.  A few yards down the road a woman was waiting at the original bus shelter which now has no bus stop attached. The live destination boards were working and a 302 bus was indicated in one minute. I put my hand out to stop the bus but the driver ignored me. The bus sailed past only, infuriatingly, to stop at the red traffic light and disgorge passengers from the back door. The driver did not open the front doors for passsengers to board the bus.

This may seem trivial but for the elderly, infirm, pregnant and those with small children it is a major inconvenience and Brent Council and Transport for London need to sort it out quickly.