Conservative London Assembly Member for Bexley & Bromley has today launched a petition to oppose cuts in service to the 227 Bus, which runs between Crystal Palace and Bromley North. Under proposed plans by Sir Sadiq Khan and TfL, the bus will reduce from almost 8 buses an hour to six during peak times. These cuts represent the latest in a series of reductions in Outer London, coinciding with many operators handing routes back to TfL and refusing to run them.
Thomas’ petition comes amid concerns that Outer London Boroughs, which already struggle with poorer access to public transport and centrally-imposed anti-motorist initiatives, will become increasingly harder for residents in Bromley to navigate as dwindling service provisions vanish. The call cites how busy the 227 is in practice, with many buses being crowded during peak times - something which will only get worse as a result of reductions in service. Reductions in service could see 84 fewer buses a week make the journey between Crystal Palace and Bromley, forcing the passengers of these services into already-crowded ones.
Sir Sadiq Khan has pledged to improve public transport and increase journeys on London buses, but is now overseeing cuts which Thpmas believes will lead fewer people to use services - and in turn thus lead to greater cuts in time.
Thomas Turrell AM, who is also the City Hall Conservatives Transport Spokesman, said:
“Yet again Sadiq Khan says one thing and does the opposite. He says he wants more people taking then bus then cuts the routes. Meaning buses are more congested, less reliable and less convenient. This makes them less appealing to use. These constant cuts and reductions to Bromley's bus service, when the borough is already underserved is acceptable. Residents are being unfairly penalised for driving, and now penalised through cuts for using public transport; how are people supposed to get to work, the shops, or to see friends? This cut to a well used and popular service must be stopped to avoid inflicting this on residents. I urge local people to sign my petition.”
