Tonge: "Give Us Bus Marshalls"

12.00.00am GMT Mon 19th Jan 2004

Dr Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond has intervened in the dispute which has deprived Ham residents of their local bus service. Drivers of the 371 bus between Richmond and Kingston upon Thames have recently been coming under attack from local youths on certain parts of their route.

As a result they are refusing to serve the estate after 6pm, continuing along Petersham Road instead of turning down Sandy Lane and rejoining their normal route at Tudor Drive.

The MP said: "While I have considerable sympathy with the drivers, the withdrawal of this service is quite unacceptable. Some of my constituents are having to walk for 20 minutes in the dark to reach their homes."

"I have written to both Chief Superintendent Gargini and to the bus company insisting that they work together to restore the service as soon as possible."

"I have been writing to Mr Gargini for years about the anti-social behaviour in Ham - as have local councillors, so I hope he will find a way of getting a grip on it. Meantime, I think what we need are Bus Marshalls! They would be a great deal more use than sky marshals."

ENDS

For further information please contact Jenny Tonge on pager number 07699 734071 or Serena Hennessy on: 020 8332 7919.