A THRIVING club has been left out in the cold after its latest bid for a bus route was rejected.
Hayes Working Men's Club, in Pump Lane, has been pushing for a bus to serve the club's 2,000 members, many of whom are elderly, as well as the businesses based there.
Richard Barnes, the deputy Mayor of London and a Hillingdon councillor, presented a petition signed by more than 600 supporters to Boris Johnson in March.
In the response sent to Mr Barnes, it says that an additional service is not necessary.
It goes on to say the level of growth Transport for London had experienced in the past 10 years is unprecedented and not sustainable, and there was a need to 'stabilise the bus network'.
An earlier bid in October 2008 had the same outcome.
Bob Daybell, the club's secretary, broke the news to the club members last week and told the Gazette: "To say we are disappointed is an understatement.
"It is cutting off a lifeline for a lot of our members, who are either unable to walk the distance or can't afford to get cabs here each day.
"The day after the announcement about the investment into new Routemaster buses, which will cost millions, I had to stand up and tell the committee that the reason they wouldn't listen to us was because they had to look after the pennies. They're taking the mickey."
David Brough, chairman of Hayes Town Partnership, backed the petition and saw the bigger picture, believing that it would improve links in the town centre and encourage more residents to use public transport.
On hearing the news, he said: "I fear that this may be the first of a number of cases where good proposals to improve public transport are rejected because of restrictions on public spending.
"It does not appear that there has been any recognition of the case that was made by the Working Men's Club for a bus service to meet the needs of their older members." * Does Pump Lane need a bus route? Send your views to jackgriffith@trinitysouth.co.uk.
