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’.