Residents on Weir Estate are calling for the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson to intervene in the delayed 255 bus route extension delays, as the proposals hit stalemate between Lambeth and Wandsworth Council’s.

At a recent association meeting, residents called for WERA to lobby the Mayor in order to get bus route implemented along Weir Road. The plans to extend the single Decker 255 bus from Streatham Hill station down to Balham Station has hit the buffers as a handful of residents in Wandsworth submitted a petition against the bus running along their road, this has been backed by Wandsworth Council who have confirmed they have passed on their objections to Transport for London.

Weir residents are furious that the extension has been delayed despite the fact the route would run along more of Lambeth’s streets than Wandsworth and that in the consultation published at the end of 2009, 68% of local people voted in favour of the extension.

WERA is now calling on the Mayor of London to step in to resolve the hold up of the plan which has been supported by the association, The Weir Link and even a builder’s merchant along the route in Wandsworth.  Weir Estate has also recruited the support of Greater London Assembly member, Valerie Shawcross who will now ensure that TfL and Mayor Johnson tackle the issue.

The stalemate has occurred with Lambeth in favour of the proposed route and Wandsworth against it.

The Chair of Weir Estate Residents Association said of the situation “Many residents are angry at the lack of transport links in this area, particularly in Thornton Ward which is a no man’s land when it comes to public Transport. At our meeting residents made it clear they do not think it is fair that on council can have such control of the extension plans and that as the route takes in far more of Lambeth than in Wandsworth, greater consideration should be given to Lambeth residents. We support the extension and believe it will bring a much needed transport link to this community.”

Following this, WERA is now writing a letter to City Hall to highlight the issue in the hope Boris Johnson can push through the proposals.

Val Shawcross, Lambeth and Southwark’s Assembly member has given her backing to the campaign to settle the dispute “I’ll do whatever I can to support this.   I will ask some Questions of the Mayor, I will also talk to TfL and throw what weight I have behind it.”

The consultation to extend the route from Streatham Hill station across Thornton Ward, taking in some of the area’s main housing estates, and terminating at Balham Station, was carried out by Transport for London back in July 2009 and the report was published a few months later.

Residents have waited since to see the bus run along Weir Road. Many residents have stated how they feel cut off from the two shopping districts and other transport links due to having walk fair distance to shops, train and tube stations.

It is not expected the single decker will commence running along the route this year as TfL seeks to find a solution. WERA now feels the best way forward is to ask the Mayor to step in.

A Wandsworth Council spokesman said:  “We have passed on our observations to TfL and have asked them to consider the concerns raised by our residents. We are now waiting to hear the outcome of their deliberations.”

You can read the Transport for London Consultation document HERE

You can also read the open letter sent by WERA to Mayor Johnson HERE