Issue - meetings

To receive and consider any petitions for which notice has been provided under Standing Order 66.

Members are asked to note that the following petition is due to be presented at the meeting:

(a)        Use of Liddell Gardens and Doyle Gardens as a shortcut by Metroline buses between Kensal Rise & Willesden Junction bus garage.

Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Connor Woodman (as a representative of the Liddell Gardens Residents Association and residents living along Liddell Gardens, Doyle Gardens & College Road) in support of a petition containing over 50 signatures relating to concerns and the negative impact arising from changes in operation of the 28 and 187 bus routes along the streets identified and requesting that the Council intervene on behalf of residents to lobby TfL and Metroline to consider alternative solutions and rerouting of the services.

In introducing the petition, Connor Woodman highlighted the impact the changes in the 28 and 187 bus routes were having on residents along Liddell Gardens, Doyle Gardens & College Road in terms of their quality of life and property condition which, he advised, had been raised on numerous occasions via email with representative of the Council, TfL and Metroline.  Despite highlighting these issues, members were advised no action had been taken to date to alleviate the concerns outlined.

In order to support the concerns being raised, Mr Woodman advised that residents had commissioned (at their own cost) independent surveys that demonstrated the impact the change in bus routes were having locally.  The first survey, from an independent specialist (KP Acoustics) had assessed the potential impact of vibrations in terms of disruption to residents and physical damage to their properties.  This had found evidence of property damage linked to use of the roads by buses, supported by video footage taken over two 24 hour periods.  Referring to the outcome of the survey, members were advised that over a 24-hour period in April 2025 40 examples had been recorded of the vibrations caused by passing buses exceeding British Standard  BS22581 (described as being at a level at which “disruption would likely cause complaint”).  As a further concern, it was reported that on five occasions over the same period the vibrations from passing buses on Liddell Gardens had been recorded as exceeding the level at which they could be expected to cause structural damage in unreinforced buildings, which he highlighted would include all properties along the streets identified.

In referring to the second survey, Mr Woodman advised this had been commissioned to assess the perceived impact on local residents arising from the use of the roads by buses as an access route.  Based on the responses received to date, the findings had identified 64% of parents reporting that their children were being woken each night by the buses, which he highlighted would also have an effect on the each families health and wellbeing, as well as 96% of households with vulnerable residents having experienced property damage or disruption to their lives which they felt ‘powerless’ to prevent.  As specific examples, individual testimonies were provided from a 70-year-old resident, highlighting how the buses kept her awake each night as well as from the parent of a newborn baby outlining damage to their property (in the form of cracks appearing in their walls) since the services had been rerouted and the newly introduced  ...  view the full decision text for item 5

5.1     Use of Liddel & Doyle Gardens by Metroline buses as access from Kensal Rise to Willesden Bus Garage

Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Connor Woodman (representing the Liddell Gardens Residents Association and residents living along Liddell Gardens, Doyle Gardens & College Road) to the meeting who he advised was attending to present a petition containing over 50 signatures relating to concerns and the negative impact arising from changes in operation of the 28 and 187 bus routes along Liddel & Doyle Gardens.  The petitioners were calling on the Council to intervene on behalf of local residents by lobbying TfL and Metroline about the need to consider alternative solutions and rerouting of the services.

In thanking the Leader of the Council for the opportunity to present the petition, Connor Woodman began by highlighting the impact the changes in the 28 and 187 bus routes were having on residents along Liddell Gardens, Doyle Gardens & College Road in terms of their quality of life and property condition which, he advised, had been raised on numerous occasions via email with representative of the Council, TfL and Metroline.  Despite highlighting these issues, members were advised no action had been taken to date to alleviate the concerns outlined.

To support the concerns being raised, Mr Woodman advised that residents had commissioned (at their own cost) independent surveys that demonstrated the impact the change in bus routes were having locally.  The first survey, from an independent specialist (KP Acoustics) had assessed the potential impact of vibrations in terms of disruption to residents and physical damage to their properties.  This had found evidence of property damage linked to use of the roads by buses, supported by video footage taken over two 24 hour periods.  Referring to the outcome of the survey members were advised that over a 24-hour period in April 2025, 40 examples had been recorded of the vibrations caused by passing buses exceeding British Standard  BS22581 (described as being at a level were “disruption would likely cause complaint”).  As a further concern, it was reported that on five occasions over the same period the vibrations from passing buses on Liddell Gardens had been recorded as exceeding the level at which they could be expected to cause structural damage in unreinforced buildings, which he highlighted would include all properties along the streets identified.

In referring to the second survey, Mr Woodman advised this had been commissioned to assess the perceived impact on local residents arising from the use of the roads by buses as an access route.  Based on the responses received to date, the findings had identified 64% of parents reporting that their children were being woken each night by the buses, which he highlighted would also have an effect on each families health and wellbeing, as well as 96% of households with vulnerable residents having experienced property damage or disruption to their lives they felt ‘powerless’ to prevent.  As specific examples, individual testimonies were provided from a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5