Dear Commissioner Byford,

RE: Proposed cuts to bus routes in Battersea

I am writing regarding the proposed cuts to bus routes in Battersea.

I recognise that the planned cuts are a direct result of Government policy and ministers’ refusal to fund TfL adequately. Over the years on average the Government has cut funding by £700m per year, leaving London as the only major city in the world whose transport network is entirely reliant on fare revenue. Then, during the pandemic when Londoners did the right thing and stayed home, TfL’s revenues collapsed – and, instead of simply bailing TfL out like it did with privatised rail companies, the Government chose to play politics and proposed a conditional deal.

There is no question that these cuts will have significant impact on my constituents. The reduction in bus services will inevitably lead to a reduction in operating capacity levels.

The following bus routes will be impacted in Battersea:

• Route 49 will stop at King’s Road, in Chelsea and no longer crosses the river to Clapham Junction Battersea.
• Route 19 will still run between Battersea Bridge and Finsbury Park, but will now take a route via South Kensington, rather than Sloane Square.
• Route 211, which previously ran from Hammersmith to Waterloo, will now cross the river at Chelsea Bridge and terminate at Battersea Power Station.
• Route C3 will be withdrawn totally, but its route will be entirely covered by the new extended Route 27 which will now terminate at Clapham Junction.

While many of the proposed cuts to routes will be covered by an alternative bus, there will be a knock-on effect on the frequency of service and reduced capacity. Buses are the backbone of London’s transport system, and their regularity and reliability are a big part of that.

Any cuts to TfL’s bus network will also affect people with the fewest options and the least money, as buses are the most affordable mode of transport in London.

Disabled people and elderly passengers are especially impacted the proposed changes. Provision for wheelchairs is still, sadly, often lacking on London’s buses, with the space reserved for disabled passengers frequently taken up by prams or luggage. Halving the number of buses on a route increases the likelihood that a wheelchair user will not be able to use the bus. Furthermore, disabled constituents have shared their concerns about the impact of having to disembark, wait, and take another bus will have on their regular journeys.

Buses also provide safety and security for women travelling home at night with the option of a bus, following a regular route and having a driver, conferring a real sense of safety. However, if routes are cut, or if waiting times at bus stops are longer, then that option disappears.

Every route will also have a tipping point where, if waiting times become too long or the likelihood of getting a seat gets too small, passengers will stop relying on it and be forced to seek alternative transport. I am worried that this could encourage people to go back to their cars. In a climate emergency, when we all need to reduce personal car journeys, this is a backwards step.

Finally, I have concerns about the impact of these cuts on bus drivers. While I am pleased that bus drivers will not lose their jobs, the internal moving of the existing 800 vacancies does mean there will be job cuts in real terms. Drivers will also lose the opportunity to work overtime on rest days, depriving them of the chance to earn extra money that, especially in this cost-of-living crisis, could be crucial to their standard of living. The restructuring of bus routes will be disruptive to drivers, as they are forced to work at different stations.

I was proud to join Unite the Union at their rally to stop the bus routes cuts. I believe TfL must rethink the cuts whilst continuing to push the Government to provide London with a fair settlement. I will continue to raise this issue and push for these cuts to be withdrawn.

Yours sincerely,

Marsha de Cordova MP