From Tony Adams

SIR. Transport for London's (Tfl) proposals to improve local bus services comes after much campaigning by the Kingston area Traveller's Association (Kata) and we will be assessing them at our public meeting on September 20.

We are especially pleased that route 85 (from Putney) is to be extended to Kingston University/County Hall and moreover, will be extended at night (N85) over the 71 to Chessington.

This belatedly replaces the old N14 which we lost over a decade ago.

The re-routing of the 406/418 away from Surbiton Station to run via Surbiton Hill Road will speed up journeys between Kingston & Tolworth, Ewell and Epsom as per the old green London country services up until 1990.

After 20 years the 131 is once again extended to Tooting to relieve pressure on the 57 and are seeking that the 131 actually terminates at St George's Hospital.

As a consequence of the above, the 493 (Richmond-Tooting) will be re-routed at Wimbledon via Alexander Road and Gap Road (as per 156) to the unserved Plough Lane and all of Blackshaw Road (St George's Hospital) to Tooting.

Frequencies are set to go up evenings and Sundays from 15 to every 12 minutes on routes:- 57,71,85,131,213 and 371, plus the 131 and 213 will also go up Monday to Saturday day-times to every eight minutes.

TONY ADAMS, Kingston Area Travellers Association