Plans to extend a bus route along Weir Road, linking Streatham and Balham could be running by this summer according to Thornton Ward Councillors who campaigned for a service in the area.

Following a consultation which took place last summer, Three Thirds of residents are said to be in favour according to the report released by Transport for London. The 255 single-decker which currently terminates at Streatham Hill Station would be extended to run along Weir Road into Balham.

The area which residents say is ‘cut off’ from the town centres and poorly served by transport links will be served but a regular bus service making life easier for residents on Weir Estate and across Thornton Ward.

Thornton’s Labour Councillors campaigned tirelessly to bring a bus route to the community, is still surrounded by some doubt as Wandsworth Council, a Conservative run Council are stalling on a decision to the let the bus run along Old Devonshire Road. However traffic calming measures have already started to be put in place as well as widening of some corners.

Residents have waited some years for a bus route after many aired views that the elderly and those with pushchairs had to walk some distance to reach the shopping areas. The bus route will bring a much needed link for the area.

Thornton’s Labour Council Candidate Ed Davie spoke of the difficulties faced by those living in the area “Thornton is brilliantly served by public transport, this new extended route in which my labour colleagues have lobbied for will help address that”
Bus stops will be placed along Weir Road in both directions, opposite Weir Estate.

WERA Chair Dave McEvoy said “This will be very welcomed by the residents on Weir, I am asked regularly by residents many elderly when the bus will be introduced, it will come as a huge relief that this may well be this summer”

Many works are however still needed to make the route passable for the bus though some say this will affect parking spaces along some of the route. The plan for a new route was given support by WERA and Travis Perkins based on Old Devonshire Road.

The single-decker should however be running by the middle of this year.