We want our bus stop seat back, demand campaigners in Malden Road

Published: 16 September, 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS

CAMPAIGNERS are calling for their bus stop seat back after Transport for London removed it in an attempt to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Residents and businesses living and working around Malden Road, Kentish Town, have gathered more than 100 signatures demanding the reinstatement of a bus stop seat removed from outside Lisa the Florist a month ago.

Jackie Scott, who lives nearby, said she had witnessed pensioners running across the road when their bus arrives, after being forced to sit at the stop across the road.

Joan Jagger, who has lived in the area for 40 years, described TfL’s move as “diabolical”,  while Gill Reeves, from Shipton House opposite the bus stop, said removing the seats hadn’t had any effect on anti-social behaviour.

The campaign group, who brought their own chairs to stage a ‘sit-in’ protest at the bus stop on Friday, plan to hand over the signatures to London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Councillor Matt Sanders also backed the campaign, telling TfL: “Don’t take away things that local people care about.” He added: “The way to tackle 

crime and anti-social behaviour on Malden Road is by focusing more council and police resources on the area.”

A TfL press officer said: “TfL removed seating in the bus shelter on Malden Road to assess whether it is a contributory factor to anti-social behaviour in the area. The seating was removed as a temporary measure. 

“We will evaluate the effect of this measure next month.”