Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, has written to Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of Transport, to present the case for a new bus stop outside West Drayton Cemetery to serve mourners and visitors. The letter is in response to a petition started by members of the Hayes Muslim Centre which has gained 350 signatures so far.
West Drayton cemetery is located within a residential neighbourhood on Harmondsworth road. Local people travelling to West Drayton currently take the 350 bus to the closest bus stop located outside Tesco’s on Station Road before walking around 15-minutes to the cemetery.
Transport for London (TfL) aims for local people within the capital to live within 400 meters of a bus stop, however at more than twice the distance residents, mourners and staff are often forced to drag gardening tools, flowers and incense from the nearest bus stop on Station Road to the graveside. This presents significant difficulties for many visitors, especially those with mobility issues and respiratory health conditions.
Local resident, Imran Bhani, who lost his wife and child three years ago said:
“The events which took place in January 2021 will haunt me for the rest of my life. In just seven short hours I lost my wife to a long-term illness and my son to Covid-19.
“Nobody should ever have to bury their 26 – year- old child but due to the global pandemic I was one of many people that have. They say that time can be a great healer but for me visiting them and honouring them with prayers and fresh flowers each day makes my grieving process a little easier.
“I would urge TFL and the Mayor of London to make life easier for fellow mourners at West Drayton Cemetery, every day I see older and disabled people dragging watering cans, spades and gardening forks from the nearest bus stop which is about 15 minutes away on Station Road.
“We are all getting older and whilst I am just about managing the journey each day there will come a time when I will no longer be able to cope.
Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon said:
“Losing a lost one is always traumatic. Family and friends want to be able to pay their respects to family and friends who are no longer with them. It is quite unbelievable that this large cemetery has a bus drive straight past the entrance, but not stop at the front gates. I am convinced that many local people would benefit from this proposal and make it easier for mourners, especially those who are older, or with mobility issues.
