The long-term fight to get an Oyster card top-up machine at a shopping centre has finally come to an end.
Brent Cross shopping centre’s lack of a top-up machine, despite its extensive bus connections, has long been a bugbear for shoppers and residents, championed by assembly member Andrew Dismore.
His campaign to the London assembly and Transport for London was successful as a newly-installed machine was activated at the centre yesterday (January 16).
Mr Dismore said: “It was a ridiculous anomaly such a large bus terminus had no facilities for topping up Oyster cards.
“This was a major deterrent to potential customers so this is very welcome news for Brent Cross employees and businesses too.
“Brent Cross is the largest employer in Barnet, so it is vital it is commercially successful.”
After several delays to the installation through 2016, mayor of London Sadiq Khan promised in November the machine would be at Brent Cross by February this year.
Deadlines for June and November 2016 had already been missed as TfL worked to install Oyster machines at several bus stations around London.
The project will continue across the capital through 2017.
General manager of Brent Cross shopping centre Tom Nathan said: “By far the most requested service has been an Oyster card top-up machine here at the shopping centre.
“I have no doubt the new machine will be hugely popular and we thank all those who supported us over the years to make this a reality.”
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