Mayor of London Boris Johnson expressed interest in the proposed express bus service FastBus which would serve Wembley, Park Royal and Acton at a meeting this week at City Hall.
A delegation from Brent and Ealing put the case for case for FastBus to the Mayor at a meeting that came about following Boris Johnson’s promise to Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, that he would listen to the arguments for FastBus at first hand from local representatives from Brent and Ealing. The promise by Boris Johnson to Caroline Pidgeon was made at a Mayor's Question Time in January.
Alongside Caroline Pidgeon the case for FastBus was put to the Mayor by the business community (Nick Monger-Godfrey, Chief Executive, Park Royal Partnership) as well as representatives from Brent and Ealing Councils. At the meeting the Mayor specifically agreed that Transport for London officers should work with Park Royal Partnership and also council officers from both Brent and Ealing to progress the new bus service.
After the meeting Caroline Pidgeon said:
“It is good news that the Mayor has now heard at first hand the powerful arguments for FastBus. Boris confirmed he liked the idea, as long as it can be introduced in an affordable way.
“I think Boris Johnson is beginning to understand how FastBus would transform travel in west London and I am hopeful we might find a way to pilot the FastBus.
Councillor Daniel Brown, Lead Member for Highways and Transportation at Brent Council, who was part of the delegation meeting Boris Johnson said:
“The key point I stressed to the Mayor was that there is a need to improve orbital public transport links between Wembley, Park Royal and Acton. At present the North Circular Road and A40 already experience major congestion, so a quick and reliable express bus service could really help provide a practical alternative to many car trips.
“FastBus would be good for businesses at Park Royal, and it would also provide a frequent and fast service, principally for commuters, connecting railway stations and releasing capacity on central London stations as well as reducing car trips in the local area.”
Photo: Brent Councillor Daniel Brown (Alperton Ward), Caroline Pidgeon AM, Nick Monger-Godfrey and Phil Rankmore, (Acting Director of Transportation at Brent Council) outside of City Hall