I met Nick Lewin and Steve Walker from Transport for London to walk the proposed length of the new, soon to be trialled, Muswell Hill to Swiss Cottage bus route.

This vital route is one I have campaigned on with others for six years and finally Mayor Livingstone bowed to public pressure and it is to be introduced in January for a 6 month trial of 4 buses a day at school peak hours.

But nothing is easy – and the residents of Southwood Lane, where the bus will be routed, are really worried that the road is too narrow and that congestion will increase. They are also worried that TfL will move back a retaining wall which will mean loss of trees and that the on-street parking will be taken away.

I walked the route with the two key managers of the route to put all the residents’ points two them. Most of the points were well answered – no removal of parking and no cut back of the retaining wall. However, I think there may well be congestion at the top of the road.

I have asked TfL to turn the bus right at Archway Road and bring it round a wider road – but the officers say the right turn would make traffic stack back up Southwood Lane even worse than now.

There is a meeting next week between the key objectors, myself and TfL. My own view is that the trial will show any problems – and TfL have promised to amend the route if necessary.