Forum Topic

The saga of 235 bus terminus at Great West Quarter.

When the Great West Quarter was being planned some years ago.and permission for it's new development sought...the illustrations supporting the proposal featured a red London bus.The 235 has been a regular service up till recently. Access to the GWQ has recently ceased because the automated barrier that allows the bus entry has malfunctioned.The 235 bus currently terminates near Morrisons (the County Court)and that is not helpful to those Brentford folk who live on/ or off Ealing Road, on the GWQ, or the vast estate of Green Dragon Lane where several Sheltered Homes exist. Many now have a laden walk they don't wish for.It is said that spare parts are needy from Italy to repair the barrier. Worse still are rumours that the Great  West Quarter bosses no longer want the bus on it's property!!It's a surprise that this serious local issue has not featured on this  Forum before to alert Councillors and others.The story abounds on a local Facebook page.. so why not here?

Jim Lawes ● 606d22 Comments

The 235 bus is now truly working to the benifit of many.Silly disputes caused by buses disturbing/damaging the low walls surrounding the flower beds have been resolved.The occasional non functioning of the barriercould still be a future headache...but who pays for what has been resolved.I notice that when the buses have reached their terminating bus stop...and the driver wanders off...the bus still makes disturbing rumbly and whining noises ...even at 5.30am!

Jim Lawes ● 547d

At the original presentations, the options for the bus service ( then un referred to as the 235) was for a light poppa type bus to run via Ealing Road, the great west road to Clayponds Ave and terminate or serve at Clayponds Hospital. Then run back via The bit of Clayponds by Carville Hall park south through GWQ and back onto Ealing Road with the terminus either at Clayponds Hospital or GWQ.Then it changed to running along A4 with a stop on the A4 and a stop at Carville Hall Pk South and laying over at GWQ.Then it ended up as just in at one end of GWQ and out the other.And then in and out at one end only.Trouble is no-one overseeing the design and build works going on within the site of GWQ and realised that the design was amended to negate bus operations and certainly not for a standard size bus.The developers in truth never wanted a bus service within their site and really still don't, but those at the east end of Clayponds also lost out with a link into Brentford.Not unlike all the premise of Community use space and inclusivity.  Smoke and mirrors to win over planning voters.This was at a time when just Euro3 buses existed. Some of those mitigations are now totally irrelevant.This was long before the present councillors were elected so it's not their fault but again TfL who just put all their focus and resources on East London at the time.

Raymond Havelock ● 558d

235 is back at GWQ ( a lot more quickly than it was like previously).As Martin correctly ending in GWQ was always part of the planning mentioned.I can confirm as a councillor back in 2016 (ish) a lot of energy spent by councillors (including the then leader), traffic people from LBH and from TfL, people from the developers and site managers was spent it finding an answer which would solve the question for several years. The solution eventually included cleaner buses, different bus operating rules, more robust barriers, extensive different options we invested turning out to be impractical, and most of more, determination by all involved to make it work.I don't know what how a solution was found to this in 2022 but delighted it's now fixed.

Guy Lambert ● 561d

Any real update?Is it true?Rumours galore!Us old crocks live in hope.

Jim Lawes ● 562d

Many offering alternative solutions to the bus terminating at GWQ are missing the point somewhat. The bus has always been meant to terminate at GWQ. It was part of the original planning permissions. Just because a few residents don't want it does not mean we should get it moved elsewhere. I am sure plenty of residents DO want it. The bus cannot currently just terminate at the 65 bus stop and use the roundabout. There are no toilet facilities there for the drivers. They cannot park up and walk to the existing facilities - it would mean leaving buses queued up all along the main road.

Martin Webb ● 593d

Why does not the 235 use the roundabout on the A4, below the M4? It is because there are at least 3 different sped limits for this roundabout with lights? The 235 could use the 65 bus stop to end and restart its' run.

Paul Grinnell ● 593d

The two barrier posts that go up and down are now apparently working..and are currently in the DOWN position.It's the two posts either side..each having a sensor attached that....have caused a delay.When a bus approaches the barrier ....the sensors activate the barrier posts.A trouble has been sabotage! Someone Smashing the sensors!In addition, I understand, if a bus driver damages one of those low walls bordering the flower beds..the Bus Company has refused in the past to pay  to repair the damage. That has been another cause of the delays.Now apparently..agreements have been signed.. the bus company will get Tfl to pay for the repair within 14 days.In addition, apparently, the bus drivers' toilet facility has suffered damage too.What goes on behind the scenes!Fingers crossed for Monday next.Seeing will be believing!

Jim Lawes ● 594d

If it's real 'Emergency Work' then it's a priority and gets done with immediate effect.Hogwash and not for the first time.

Raymond Havelock ● 601d

Hooray Keith.The Bus Company has now posted Notices at an Ealing Road bus stop.UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.Route 235 is unable to service this stop...due to Emergency Work

Jim Lawes ● 601d

235b still termainating at the Crown Court.

Keith Iddon ● 601d

To be fair, Some local councillors past and present have done thier best with this and other issues, and others have not. but it seems the problem lays with day to day overseeing by officials and TfL who just cannot seem to do the basics and are either too indifferent , not persistent or politically shackled.Councils all over London have issues in dealing with TfL because of the way funding is delivered and creates a dilemma of how and what to stand up to.But things when planned and designed need a far better scrutiny and not just a fob off statement from some consultancy or PR company. People need to understand on the ground practicalities and not just a graph or spreadsheet with statistics and carefully written reports. B%$£**t baffling brains and Pulling the wool over the eyes of decision makers and advisors is a well oiled machine these day.

Raymond Havelock ● 603d

Thanks Raymond for that insight.Brentford  Councillors.... where are you? !

Jim Lawes ● 603d

The Bus is supposed to be electric by now but from enquiries it seems that the new electric buses have "operational issues" which have not been publicly disclosed.So is seems that the problem is the EV buses have a length and weight issue which  is rendering access to GWQ unsuitable. Turning at the A$ is also problematic.Those with longer memories will recall that there was a bus stop with a pull in at Ealing Road when the previous  tower  existed and the light industrial estate was still active.  At some point the boundaries have been altered and the pavement  which was wider reduced. The studs and bollards now claimed by the landowners.There is now a near mature tree where the bus stop lay-by was . But the land grab would now make that reinstatement impossible. So Short Journey 65s ( now more common due to battery range issues) now have to park on the railway bridge hill partially blocking Ealing road.Theres is also a an increasing need issue with Electric recharging for buses at termini as there is a need to do short recharges.  The cost or compliance ( also unconfirmed) is astronomic or negative from the GWQ management.The ball was not really being watched when it should have and far too much overlooked or simply not considered pragmatically when GWQ was being pushed through. It's obvious that even from a residents aspect, corners were cut on build and service quality but infrastructure and design were also not really overseen or enforced.  Quite where that failing buck stops is hard to define.But the Council and TfL need to get tough on things that were conditions of a development and much better practical and future proofed design needs to be a major factor. Too often its pretty pictures but no actual pragmatic and workable substance that wins the day with consequences years after.

Raymond Havelock ● 603d

Here, I've made it easy for you. This is part of what is on Brentford Debate Not Hate:ANGER AS 235 BUS SERVICE BLOCKED BY GREAT WEST QUARTER MANAGEMENT. The dispute was raised by Julie Brooker at the Isleworth and Brentford Area Forum. "We need it back," she said speaking on behalf of many residents. Cllr Katherine Dunne replied that GWQ were being ordered to reinstate it with the message: "Sorry, you don't have choice. The bus has to go there."

Anne England ● 604d

The Councillors are pushing to get the 235 bus back for you as Katherine Dunne said at the IBAF meeting held at the Musical Museum on Thursday evening. You could look this up on Brentford TV Debate Not Hate instead of just thinking something and reporting it as fact.

Anne England ● 604d

The issue is how can some residents and a company decide that they do not want a bus in there area. What would happen if every bus route someone complained their be no buses anywhere.The 235 bus is electric.Research has showed that the bus stop and route is used by lots of people  not only on the estate but from the north side of Brentford who do not have anyway to get to Brentford, people who work on the  great west road .Hounslow council wants use to be more green by shutting roads encouraging walking getting on public transport but not pushing to get the 235 back for us.

Julie Brooker ● 604d

I think the 235 may well be electric. Possibly the start up could be quite noisy regardless.

Anne England ● 605d

Walking in the GWQ during the last hour... I noticed that the terminal is bang outside the GWQ Estate Office!So they would hear the noisy comings and goings all day.Why not silent Electric Buses?

Jim Lawes ● 605d

It's all part of living in a city.I don't like the planes at 5am much either, but I decided to live where I live so that problem is on me.

Keith Iddon ● 606d

The 235 was part of the building plan of GWQ. The problem is the bus which has an engine which turns off each time the bus stops. The noise level when it starts is bad so at 0600 you can understand residents are not happy every 12 minutes. Also many of the residents lower the tone of GWQ

David Squire ● 606d

Thanks for that information  Keith.Interestingly I've read that a few GWQ residents prefer not the have the bus there!Lowering the tone of the area!?

Jim Lawes ● 606d

Ispoke with a bus driver t'other night and he said it should be back to normal by 28th of this month.

Keith Iddon ● 606d