Overcrowding at Turnham Green Tube Station

Following concerns raised about serious overcrowding at Turnham Green Tube Station during the rush hour, I have been liasing with Transport for London (TfL) to see what can be done to improve the situation. Following correspondence from my office in Westminster, TfL have now confirmed that they are planning to add an extra Ealing Broadway-bound District Line train to the timetable during the evening rush hour. The extra train, which will be incorporated into the timetable in December, has become available due to TfL's cancelling of the Earl's Court to Olympia shuttle service during weekdays.
In addition to this, I am continuing my work to put pressure on TfL for the Piccadilly Line to stop at Turnham Green Tube Station more frequently. The Piccadilly Line currently only stops at Turnham Green during the early morning and late in the evening.
Whilst I very much welcome the addition of this extra District Line train during the evening rush hour, I would like TfL to look into what can be done to tackle overcrowding at Turnham Green Tube Station during the morning rush hour too. The Eastbound platform is often seemingly dangerously overcrowded and commuters often have to wait for a number of trains to pass before they can even squeeze on to a train. As a result, I have written to TfL to highlight the issue of platform and train overcrowding at Turnham Green. A solution to this, of course, would be to get the Piccadilly Line to stop routinely at Turnham Green Tube Station.

M&S Go Green

I really like the new Marks & Spencer scheme to try and reduce the number of plastic bags being used in the High Street.

Every year, British retailers give out 13 billion bags, which take 1,000 years to decay. Following a trial by M&S, demand for bags fell by more than 70%. If this is followed across the country, then there will be 280 million bags less every year. The money raised by M&S from selling plastic bags to food shoppers, will go to the Groundwork Trust to improve parks, play areas and gardens.

We can all make a difference to the environment, even in a small way, and make the world a better place. M&S has taken a lead in the retail sector which hopefully will put pressure on other retailers to also reduce the number of bags they hand out for free.

I have tried to do my bit for the environment and local business by giving the Chiswick, Osterley & Spring Grove and Hounslow South Councillors an alternative to use for shopping or for their Council files. It is the Turnham Green bag. This is an initiative of two women who left the city and trained at Leith’s School of Food and Wine and are committed to both environmental and fair trade principles. They carefully source ingredients from those who support their local communities and hold similar ethical values. They also promote good health and try and reduce harmful environmental impacts. Do look at their website and buy more from them www.turnham-green.co.uk

Council Leader and Turnham Green ward Councillor Peter Thompson is on the left in the photo and local resident Margaret Chadderton on the right.