A senior transport official has been put on the spot over failings in bus access for wheelchair-users in Richmond.

Ken Davidson, head of bus operations for Transport for London (TfL), visited East Sheen on Monday for a meeting with 21-year-old wheelchair-user Clare Watson, after she lifted the lid on her daily battle to travel.

The TfL official talked through the problems Miss Watson and other disabled passengers in the borough face on public transport and assured her the matter would be looked into.

Miss Watson, who hopes to return to college if issues with bus travel can be solved, said she was glad action was finally being taken but was left with mixed feelings about the meeting.

She said: “I’m glad someone has taken the time to come and get my side of the story. Hopefully now we have highlighted it things will improve.

“But I’m not 100 per cent reassured yet that the problem will be sorted - not as much as I’d like to be anyway.

“Hopefully it can be resolved very quickly but I wouldn’t say I’m convinced yet.”

Last month the former Waldegrave School pupil, of Portman Avenue, told the Richmond and Twickenham Times how she was too scared to go out alone because of her experiences.

She told how wheelchair-users are often left at the side of the road, experience drivers who refuse to put down their wheelchair ramps or are told there is no room to board the bus. Since our initial report many other disabled bus passengers have spoken out about their experiences.

Mr Davidson visited Richmond to hear firsthand how difficult getting around can be for disabled bus users.

He said: “We are very concerned and came to find out the issues.

“We’re very sorry to hear of Clare’s troubles. We’ve worked very hard to make buses as accessible as possible and are very disappointed that Clare is experiencing these problems.

“We spend a great deal of time training our drivers and bus ramps are checked before going out, nevertheless from Clare’s description something is going wrong so I’m going to go back and try to find out exactly what is going wrong.”

Miss Watson is also hoping to be able to discuss transport failings with TfL commissioner Peter Hendy next month, when he visits the borough for a meeting with Richmond’s cabinet member for traffic, Councillor Clare Head. So far it has not been confirmed if she will be allowed to attend.

The RTT, backed by London Assembly members, Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith and disability charity Richmond Aid, have also called for a meeting with London Mayor Boris Johnson over the issue, but his office has yet to confirm a date for the meeting, or even if one will take place.