Request ID: FOI-1536-2223 Date published: 17 October 2022
You asked
The southbound 261 route has been on diversion, along Burnt Ash Hill, from Baring Road, as a result of roadworks, since August 2022. This is expected to continue until October 2022.
The diversion you have put in place contains no temporary bus stops and therefore causes a major inconvenience to passengers who would wish to alight along that route.
I wish to understand the criteria you used to make this decision, and what aspects of this route you deemed to be a) suitable as a diversion, yet b) unsuitable for temporary bus stops.
Therefore, please provide the following recorded information :
1) The date that TFL became aware of the need for a diversionary route for the 261 southbound as a result of the Baring Road southbound closure
2) The date on which you initiated the determination of a diversionary route, and the date this was completed.
3) The criteria used to determine that diversionary route and any temporary stops along it
4) The result of which criteria passed/failed and the reasons for those passes/failures
We answered
Our ref: FOI-1536-2223/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 23 September 2022 asking for information about current 261 bus route diversion.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
The route 261 is currently on diversion (southbound only) due to ongoing water trunk main replacement works on Westhorne Avenue / Baring Road SE12. The works currently taking place were not planned as needing any bus diversions. However the extent of the works changed upon excavation causing congestion on the bus network. This was such that on the 28/07/2022 our Network Management Control Centre introduced the southbound diversion utilising Burnt Ash Hill: From Burnt Ash Hill at St. Mildred's Road, ahead Burnt Ash Hill, right Coopers Lane, left Baring Road and normal line of route. This diversion route was chosen as it is safe and is the shortest diversion route available. Alternative diversion routes utilising Verdant Lane or Horncastle Road contain fixed bus stops but would have been significantly longer and were no doubt not chosen for these reasons. Burnt Ash Hill on the diversion route does not have any fixed bus stops. The provision of temporary stops on this stretch of the diversion is hindered by driveways and “free for all” parking. Essentially with parking being unrestricted, a temporary stop can become unsafe and cause congestion if a vehicle parks adjacent to it. If the parking were controlled we would have requested the local authority to suspend sufficient parking to enable the siting of a temporary stop. The first available bus stop on the diversion route is Stop Z (Cooper’s Lane) on Cooper’s Lane. Buses on diversion serve this stop. The bus stops on Baring Road which are not being served due to the southbound diversion are clearly closed, the flags hooded and have passenger publicity present. The works are now anticipated to continue until the 22/12/2022. If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
