A petition has been launched to improve a "lamentably" unreliable bus service in Hounslow as rising bollards repeatedly stop it from being able to access an estate.

The no 235 bus from Sunbury to Brentford has only been able to complete its route on 77 days over the last 14 months, according to one angry resident - meaning it has been cut short more than 80% of the time.

Brentford councillor Guy Lambert has now demanded action to resolve the long-running problems, by starting a petition which has more than 120 signatures.

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"The 235 route is much appreciated when it is running. However, it has really lamentable reliability," he said.

Brentford councillor Guy Lambert

"I've been very frustrated by Transport for London 's failure to find a permanent solution and by (developer) Barratt's failure to fix the bollards (causing the problem) sooner," he said.

Bus stop could be moved to improve reliability

The 235 route was extended in 2013 from its old terminus in High Street, Brentford, to the new Great West Quarter (GWQ) estate in Ealing Road, Brentford, which is managed by Barratt London.

As well as serving residents living on the GWQ estate, the extension - funded by the developer - provided a direct bus link between the nearby Clayponds estate and Hounslow town centre.

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But rising bollards at the entrance to the estate, built on the site of the old Beecham headquarters, have repeatedly broken down over the last year.

Julie Brooker and Jeanette Odey, of the Claypond Estate Residents' Association, are among those who have campaigned for the 235 bus service to resume its full route

This has prevented buses from serving the estate, meaning they must instead terminate further south outside Brentford County Court, to the great frustration of many passengers.

In November last year, campaigners said elderly and disabled passengers had been left stranded because the route was no longer serving their neighbourhood.

Security guard to help improve service in short term

TfL and Barratt both said they were working with Hounslow Council to look at alternative locations for the bus stop, which getwestlondon understands would be outside the estate but close to its entrance.

John Barry, TfL's head of network development for buses, said: "I'm very sorry to passengers for the prolonged disruption to route 235, which happens when our buses can't get into the Great West Quarter.

"We're very keen to sort this out and are working with Hounslow Council on a review of options for the bus route's terminus. This should enable us to provide a more reliable service for our customers."

A Barratt spokesperson said: "Barratt London is supportive of efforts by the local authority to maintain the 235 bus service and we are currently looking at alternative locations for the bus stop.

"In the interim, to assist in maintaining service disrupted due to accidental damage by third parties, Barratt London has agreed to temporarily fund a security guard."