Thirty years ago, April 24, 1977, was an important date for residents of Carshalton-on-the-Hill and parts of Carshalton Beeches, for on this date bus route 154 was permanently diverted from its Boundary Road, Park Lane and Ruskin Road route, to run the full length of Stanley Park Road, Beeches Avenue and past Carshalton Beeches Station.

Introduced in 1959 to replace trolleybus route 654, the 154 served Ruskin Road, which had been built for the trams in 1906, as the trams were not allowed to run past Wallington Green and along Carshalton High Street as originally intended.

This was a triumph for local residents (my own family included) and made the buses far more accessible than hitherto, avoiding a long uphill walk from Boundary Corner.

Since then, LT/TFL have served many more roads with buses, for example the full length of Green Wrythe Lane and Thornton Road on the 151.

Many S' routes, a number of which use smaller vehicles, have also increased the mobility of many people, particularly the elderly and disabled by running along residential roads, often despite local opposition.

London had its first omnibus in 1929 - the word meaning for all' and so it should be that buses are available to everyone, including those who are addicted to car travel and who, themselves may, one day, be extremely grateful that a bus was provided for them in their more senior years.

JOHN PARKIN West Street Lane Carshalton