Bus firm to pay up after drivers destroyed rose garden
by Lucy Buckland
lucy.buckland@essnmedia.co.uk
A bus operator will pay for damage to a "rose garden" after its drivers took short cuts across it.
Arriva says it will foot the bill to repair fix-up the green triangle of grass, at the junction of Lacey Drive and Forge Avenue in Old Coulsdon, after the Advertiser published pictures of a bus being driven over it, last week.
Drivers on the route, which caters for students at the nearby Oasis Academy in Homefield Road, were also accused of dragging mud down the road from the verge, known locally as the rose garden.
IT support worker Alex Mills, 27, who contacted the Advertiser with pictures of the buses on the verge, previously said: "All the drivers need to do is reverse a little after they have neared the junction to make sure they clear it, but it seems they are just lazy."
Arriva operate the route on behalf of Transport for London.
A TfL spokesman said: "We share residents' concerns about the damage caused to the green space.
"We have asked Arriva, to remind drivers to take care when negotiating this part of the route. Arriva has also agreed to pay for the costs of repairing the damage."
Mr Mills said he was glad the bus company would pay for repairs but said he remained sceptical about drivers keeping to the rules and not mounting the verge.
27 Comments
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by Alex M, Lacey Drive
Thursday, November 04 2010, 2:39PM
“This is the first time I have actually seen this second article. So to Curious, if they paper chooses to run the story and use the pictures taken for the first, so be it!
Also, I find it ironic how people will comment on the residents causing this themselves. The pictures of the bus that was actually stuck was no where near a parked car.
As far as I am aware there has not actually been any deliberate parking to prevent the buses turning. Certainly not on my part and having spoken with neighbours not on theirs either.
Strangely enough, since these articles have been printed the problem hasn't happened again. No change to the route, parked cars or otherwise, just the consideration from the bus drivers. Which is much appreciated.”
by Sharon, Croydon
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 3:39PM
“Anon, you need to read all of the posts not just from this article but from the previous as well. You will see then that it is the residents themselves that caused this mess that was formerly a rose garden. They are just conveniently trying to pass the buck to the bus drivers.”
by Anon, croydon
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 2:09PM
“His well within his rights to moan off, look at the state of the rose garden. You forget, someone has made effort to try and keep the place nice, and only to be trashed by bus drivers. What if that were youths doing that, would you be calling them snooty then.”
by Joyce the Voice, Coulsdon
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 12:37PM
“This resident is clearly doing everything in his power to make life hell for the bus drivers. I propose that the council tow his car away or paint double yellow lines. Oh how I would love to see the faces of the snooty residents of Lacey Drive if this happened.
And yes Simon, I live very close by so I will say whatever I want.
You may think yourself as some kind of freedom fighter, to the rest of us you are a petty little man.”
by Sharon, Croydon
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 9:56AM
“Oh dear Simon, an objective point of view not to the liking of the residents of Lacey Drive. Well tough because so long as I am a commuter and so long as it is my money that pays for repairs yours included. I WILL have my say.”