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Chertsey residents' anger at new bus terminal
PEOPLE living in a quiet residential road in Chertsey have set up a petition to try and stop a bus company using their street as a bus terminus.
So far, 40 residents of Staines Lane have signed the document to force the hand of bus company Abellio, which is allowing drivers of its 461 bus to turn round and wait in the road.
Residents say the buses are increasing air and noise pollution in the street and making traffic accidents more likely.
Louise Finch, 49, lives in Staines Lane. She said: "About 40 people have already signed the petition asking Abellio to move away from our street.
"There was no consultation with residents when it started and now they are here, the drivers are speeding down the road and it won't be long before a child runs out and there is an accident.
"There are also buses coming down the road on weekends and we are not happy about it. There used to be a kudos to living in Staines Road but not any more.
"One resident even caught a driver urinating in the street as he waited to set off on another run - it is disgusting."
The buses started using the road after the August bank holiday when Abellio altered its bus routes.
The 461 runs from Chertsey to St Peter's Hospital, Ottershaw, Addlestone and through to Kingston.
Chris Norman, Surrey County Councillor for Chertsey, said: "I hope this can be resolved.
"I understand the concerns of residents because it is a quiet road and there is a question of blocking drives."
A spokesman for Abellio said: "As part of the network changes to bus services in North Surrey introduced at the end of August, a new route structure was implemented on Abellio route 461.
"Abellio wanted to provide a service that could serve as much of the local community as possible and, in order to allow the bus to continue to serve the majority of Chertsey, Staines Lane was identified as an area where the bus could turn round and stand.
"As the area is a public highway, vehicles are allowed to stop and wait on this road and the end of Staines Lane was considered an area where this could be done.
"It was also considered that extending the route to Staines lane would benefit local residents as it provided a bus service to an area of Chertsey that previously did not have a service.
"However, following the introduction of the new service and the comments received from local residents, we are now reviewing the standing location for the buses.
"This will take us a short period to finalise arrangements and we will contact the local residents once we have finalised our position."
For more information on Abellio, visit www.abellio.co.uk
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