Dismore stands up for threatened bus routes

At today’s London Assembly  plenary meeting , Labour Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore AM questioned  Mayor Johnson, as chair of TfL over Conservative Hertfordshire County Council’s plan to cut £390,000 from bus services this year, threatening the future of a number of outer London bus routes that also serve parts of Hertfordshire.

Mr Dismore told the Mayor:

‘Hertfordshire Council is cutting £390,000 from bus services this year, on top of £1.5 m last year.

‘This threatens a number of North London bus routes which criss-cross in and  out of the London boundary.  Affected routes  include

142-Watford-Brent Cross

292-Borehamwood-Colindale

298-Potters Bar-Arnos Grove

107-Edgware-New Barnet

258-Watford-South Harrow

‘They are essential to outer London residents. For example, the 142 goes from Mill Hill Broadway to Brent Cross and is the principal way of getting to the shopping centre without having to use a car.

‘Will you continue these services without the Hertfordshire subsidy, with the same frequency?’

After the plenary, Mr Dismore said:

‘Whilst it is encouraging to know from the Transport Commissioner   that discussions are taking place, it was surprising that the Mayor was unaware of the issue.  For the Mayor then to turn the issue into a political football by using it to electioneer is not going to reassure residents.

‘What we definitely did not hear from the Mayor or the Transport Commissioner today was an assurance that the routes would continue, with or without maintaining the same frequency of service.

‘These routes are a vital lifeline to many of my constituents and the Mayor must end the uncertainty over their future, without further prevarication’.

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