Council Tax

Health Care

Transport & Highways

Libraries

Rubbish Collection

Letters & Comments

HOME

TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS
Giving up-to-date news on Transport concerns throughout the Borough

Changes to the Freedom Pass Scheme 
367 Bus Route Update
367 Bus Route

Changes to the Freedom Pass Scheme
The Freedom Pass scheme is due to be extended to include nation wide bus travel from 01/04/2008. All existing Freedom Pass holders have passes, which are due to expire on 31/03/2008. Croydon Council is still in the early stages of planning for the next mass renewal it can be confirmed but at this stage that:

• Older people will be able to renew their passes at the Post Office next spring and new stickers will be affixed to their existing passes to extend the period of validity to 31/03/2010 and to show that the pass is valid for the new national scheme.

• People who hold Disabled Persons Freedom Passes from Croydon will be sent an invitation to renew their pass early in October this year. Croydon Council will then check to see whether they continue to satisfy the conditions for participating in the scheme and will write again to the clients next spring to advise them of the outcome of their applications. If they continue to qualify for a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass they will send them a letter of authority for them to take to the Post Office next spring and two stickers will be applied to the existing pass to extend the period of validity to 31/03/2010 and to show that the holder is entitled to free nation wide bus travel under the terms of the new scheme.

• There may be some disabled people who previously held a discretionary Freedom Pass who will no longer qualify for a Freedom Pass under the new scheme as there is no provision for awarding a National Scheme pass on discretionary grounds. Croydon Council will ensure that all renewal applications are checked for entitlement under the criteria specified under the Transport Act and will notify any clients who do not qualify for a renewal of their existing Freedom Pass by post next spring.
  

For more information on the changes please contact Linda Lourenco, Concessionary Travel Service, London Borough of Croydon, via email at travel.service@croydon.gov.uk.

^Top of Page

367 BUS ROUTE UPDATE
Almost a year has passed since bus route 367 was extended to cover Shirley Oaks Village, and sections of the withdrawn bus route 494, and the change is still the cause of frustration and resentment. To add to the problem the buses at peak hours have become more crowded since the introduction of the child Oyster card which gives free travel to the under 16’s. MORA has tried to obtain some answers to the concerns expressed by residents and has written to the London Mayor, the Croydon Transport Officer, local Councillors and London Buses. Unfortunately not all letters elicit a response but Stephen Summers on behalf of Customer Services at London Buses did respond with a lengthy explanation and the relevant paragraphs are reproduced below:

“Thank you for your letter of 25 October concerning the operation of bus route 367. I am sorry that a number of residents have experienced problems when using this service recently and have expressed dissatisfaction with the change made to it earlier this year.

We appreciate that for some through passengers of route 367 their journey is now longer. We regret the inconvenience caused to such passengers by the route change. This disbenefit (sic) was recognised, and given full consideration, in our review of both routes 367 and 494. However, we are required by law to use public funds in the most efficient way possible. Demand for travel changes over time. We therefore need to constantly check that resources are being allocated to the service pattern that best reflects overall travel needs, and the amount of money currently available. I regret that to retain the 494 and 367 unchanged was not considered the most appropriate use of our limited resources.

Bus route 367 has been consistently reliable for many years, and its frequency of operation has been well matched to passenger demand. We are therefore confident that, although the journey will take slightly longer, passengers will still benefit from a reliable service. The average total journey time is only around 10-12 minutes longer when compared to the former routeing. The new routeing also provides improved links to Bromley and East/West Croydon.

I am concerned to learn about the long waits some passengers have been experiencing for buses on route 367. Our Performance Manager, who oversees the day to day operation of this service, has been made aware of this and is closely monitoring the reliability of route 367 in conjunction with the operator, Metrobus. Passenger loadings are also being monitored, particularly during the peak periods, and these together with the other points that you have raised will be considered as part of the ongoing review of this service and the local bus network.

I note your request for the re-instatement of the bus stop near the Post Office in Wickham Road, Shirley. I have today passed a copy of your letter to our Infrastructure Development Manager, who is responsible for bus stops in your area for consideration.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us about this matter. I can assure you that the revised arrangements for bus route 367 will be reviewed, and every effort will be made to ensure that the route delivers a good level of reliability in the future.”

The Executive Committee has invited a representative from London Buses to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held on Friday 31st March to discuss local bus provision. All those who have concerns about route 367 bus and bus provision generally should use this opportunity to voice their concerns and give planners an idea of the experiences of local bus users.

^Top of Page

367 BUS ROUTE
In March 2005 on receiving news that the route of the 367 was to be extended to cover Shirley Oaks Village, MORA made representations to Transport for London. It was clear to all those with local knowledge that re-routing the bus along the Lower Addiscombe Road, that is well served by bus 289 and 312, would create longer travelling times, delays and overcrowding. The problems likely to result from replacing bus route 494 by extending the 367 route were debated at the Annual General Meeting in the presence of Andrew Pelling, Greater London Assembly Member. Regardless of the objections the changes to route 367 were introduced in June 2005 without any consultation or prior notification causing passengers to be late for connecting services, flights and appointments. No revised timetables for the route were published until weeks following the change.

Surprisingly, during the next few months only a few complaints from residents were made to MORA and the conclusion was reached that local residents had adjusted to the change or found an alternative method of travel. It was reported in the May issue of the MORA newsletter that ´the system is bedding down OK’. Residents who use the service and have been adversely affected  by the change, but had chosen to remain silent, quickly challenged this statement. The subsequent number of letters and phone calls received since this statement was published proves that the changes have created frustration and anger. The opinions offered show that the important local bus service that serves the heart of Monks Orchard has become unreliable, erratic and overcrowded and it is not unusual for travellers to wait for 60 minutes or more for a bus. The lengthening of the route has increased the time taken to travel to East Croydon by a time that varies between 10 to 20 minutes and often considerably more during the morning ‘peak hours’ when the Lower Addiscombe Road is congested with traffic. In the morning ‘peak hours’ the bus from Bromley is full on arrival in the Wickham Road with the consequence that passengers wishing to board the bus at following stops are left stranded. Furthermore, in the afternoon the buses departing from West Croydon are used by passengers wishing to travel the short distance to Addiscombe leaving little or no space for those travelling to Shirley, Beckenham and beyond. The overcrowding problem has increased since the introduction of free travel for school children.

Responding to these concerns MORA is again challenging the wisdom of the changes made to route 367 by officials whose aim is to reduce costs. We are asking for the situation to be reviewed, as a matter of urgency and for action to be taken that will bring about improvements in the reliability and smooth running of the service.

Complaints about the erratic service have also been made to the local Councillors who have personal experience of the problems associated with this route. In response a petition is being organised and signatures are being collected from passengers waiting at bus stops.

Residents suffering inconvenience from problems associated with the route 367 bus should either append their names to the petition or write personally to: Central Customer Services, 23rd Floor Express State Building, Empress Approach, London SW6 1TR.

^Top of Page