The bus lane markings on London Road, near Manorgate Road, have been confusing for years, making it dangerous for cyclists and drivers travelling along on the road.

However, the council has finally fixed the zig-zagged markings, replacing them with new paint and straight lines, and many believe that this would not have been done without the persuasion of former Kingston Councillor and Banquet Records owner Jon Tolley.

The old bus lane markings on London Road were confusing for drivers and cyclists (Credit: Jon Tolley)

To help persuade the council to fix the markings, Tolley wrote to Kingston Council back in January expressing his views on the matter.

Speaking about why fixing the bus lane markings was so important to him, Tolley told Kingston Nub: "That road was so very dangerous, especially at night and in the rain. 

"I drive that way, and it was confusing to know where you're supposed to go.

"But as a cyclist going that way it just wasn't safe at all. 

"However, I'm not the only one to have brought it up, Kingston Cycling Campaign certainly did, and others may have too."

He continued: "It was outrageously dangerous and I'm glad it finally got sorted before something serious happened. I'm not angry. Sometimes things slip through the net or aren't picked up on at all. 

"That's what a councillor's job is to do, but even then, they can't catch all of the many issues that happen.

"So, if I see something that needs doing, I'll try to get it done. All too often you can wait too long for things to get fixed, and when it's safety features, it's not something you can really wait on."

Tolley was a councillor for seven years.

"In that time," he said, "you learn to think about / see things that others don't, and, significantly, you learn what is, and isn't, the council's responsibility."

"I miss that role every day.

 "It helps that I find local politics and the procedure interesting.

"And some of the councillors I do consider friends. If there's no gig on, there's no football, and I can't skate, I do quite like an evening at The Guildhall."

The bus lane markings on London Road aren't the only issues in Kingston that Tolley is worried about. 

He is also spending time on looking at "the debacle of Big Belly Bins, the closed-for-four-months-now roundabout at the Kingfisher playground, and the new facilities on the Fairfield ahead of the removal of the Kingfisher playground". 

He said: "I'll be keeping a close eye on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, on school provision, on the council comms and messaging, and all the things I used to do, without the abuse and rudeness that all too often goes with being an elected member."