• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

Would you accept that there is a real concern by residents in the West Beckenham part of my constituency that, although there was a process of consultation when bus routes in the area were comprehensively changed following the introduction of Tramlink, they don't have any assurance that that consultation ultimately took on board the views of local people? We have a circumstance, therefore, in which Tramlink has improved access to Croydon but ignores the fact that the majority or residents want to go to Beckenham and Bromley, and the bus links have got worse. Are you prepared to take steps...

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

Would the Mayor accept, bearing in mind his experience in a past life as a councillor in the London Borough of Camden, that there is a unique community in Somers Town and would he further accept that Transport for London has failed adequately to take account of the wishes of that community in their rush to deliver this cross-river tram project?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

Were you aware that the Project Manager for Transport for London has said that the plans they consulted on were incorrect; that they should never have suggested diversion routes; and the consequences of this, in an area which might be, in principle, in favour of a tram, you will never know because the consultation was so flawed. Would it not be a good idea for you to go back to square one? Because whilst you say it was a straw in the wind, you are making decisions to move forward on this. I agree with Richard Barnes in this. Will...

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

I am definitely in favour of expansion of bus routes and services, there is no doubt about that at all. Sometimes the type of service that is provided causes intense problems for some people in a small area. I know it's not a great strategic issue but for the people who live next to it, it can be absolute hell. All we're asking is that TfL should think carefully about what palliative measures they can offer. It might be a smaller bus; it might be changes to the hours; it might be local parking controls; but they cannot walk away...

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

When is a standard letter not a standard letter? I have a similar problem in my constituency as Elizabeth has, with an over-large bus going down a short, but narrow and difficult section of a route. When I raised it with you previously, Mayor, you kindly helped initiate a consultation. The consultation came back 4:1 in favour of re-routing and TfL have decided not to do the re-routing. There are, I think, social reasons why but can I just point out to you that one of the things I found bizarre about the consultation is that TfL have counted in...

• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

What is going to be the increase for these staff?

• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

How will it be resolved? Are you going to offer them what you've offered to the Underground unions?

• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

In other words, you will do nothing. On strikes, can I go back to this intended strike by RMT and TfL? Am I right to understand the ballot closes on Friday for whether there will be a strike amongst the members of RMT who man the information service?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

As and when you are responsible for the Underground, if there was a strike, would you facilitate workers who didn't want to participate in that, coming to work?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

It's the partial bus lanes that should be extended.