• CAMDEN’S latest proposal to move the 168 bus stand from the slip road to share the 24 terminus at South End Green might work, but the fact is no one knows if it will because, unlike with the two previous attempts to move it, there hasn’t been a trial.

At the conclusion of the trial to move the stand to Fleet Road in 2020 which was shown (for the second time in this location) not to work, Camden told the CNJ they were looking at a solution which wouldn’t impact unduly on Fleet Road.

The proposed solution will involve structural changes and be expensive to reverse should it not work and there is undue impact on Fleet Road.

The terminus at South End Green has only served the 24 stand. How will it accommodate another three or four buses on the 168 route as well?

It’s likely going to need expansion, not just the minor kerb adjustment in the proposal, if it is to work unless the buses are carefully regulated and excess buses wait well outside the area.

There are also potential issues with the 168 and 24 exiting the terminus by the Garden Gate pub and blocking the path of oncoming traffic; traffic turning left from Pond Street won’t be able to use the slip road, and extending the C11 / 46 bus stop on Elm Terrace to include the 24 may lead to a bottleneck, as could also happen on Fleet Road with 24s waiting to access the new stand at the same point as the 168.

South End Green is already heavily congested and more information is needed before the proposed work starts. As residents of Fleet Road we don’t want to see it being used as a spill-over, a bus stand in all but name.

This has already started happening as one 168 frequently stands outside The Little Thai restaurant. Camden’s latest proposal, and the groups who have pushed to move the stand, make much of improving the environment. But we will all suffer if this proposal doesn’t work.

More time is needed to conduct a traffic study. Perhaps the first part of the work could be undertaken, removing the centre island so the buses can enter the new stand, and the plan can be trialled. But don’t permanently close the slip road until we can all see if this plan works.

PAT NEWBY, TAHIR NAWAZ, & ALAN PETTY
Save Our Street