Councillors for the Junction ward of Islington have secured concessions to a plan by Transport for London (TfL) to increase the number of buses being stored at Holloway Bus Garage on Pemberton Gardens, amid concerns about a possible increase in pollution.
However, the increase in buses will still take place, despite Islington Labour writing to TfL to ask them to “urgently reconsider” the decision to implement the plan.
The proposal involves moving an extra 18 buses to the garage, which Islington Labour say will lead to 13,000 more bus arrivals and departures over a single year, something Councillor Janet Burgess described as “incredibly frustrating”. Local residents have expressed concern, including Nadiya, 26, who said she was “worried about pollution increasing even more.” An increase in pollution will also affect St John’s Upper Holloway Primary School which is adjacent to the bus garage.
Concessions highlighted by Islington Labour include a commitment by TfL to move to “a faster transition to a zero emission bus fleet at the garage”. Burgess said she was “pleased that we have secured some concessions from TfL, particularly around noise and air quality, which will help to mitigate the impact of the changes on residents, including families living in surrounding social housing.”
