Bus cuts would be “devastating” for residents, says council leader

By Hannah Neary, Local Democracy Reporter

London bus cuts will be ‘devastating’ for disabled and elderly residents, a council leader has warned.

Westminster City council leader Adam Hug said vulnerable Londoners will suffer if Transport for London (TfL) goes ahead with changes to 12 bus routes in the borough.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned TfL may have to cut bus services amid financial pressures brought on by the Covid pandemic.

The cuts could see 16 routes being axed altogether and 78 routes being altered.

Cllr Hug has blamed the proposed cuts on the UK Government, claiming it has failed to give TfL enough long-term financial support to keep services running.

In a letter to transport secretary Grant Shapps, Cllr Hug said the proposed cuts were “a direct result” of Government policy.

He said it would be “a devastating blow to some of the most vulnerable communities in Westminster” if the cuts go ahead.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has given TfL around £5 billion in emergency funds since May 2020 due to financial struggles caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. The bailout has been extended by different amounts of time since.

Mr Shapps previously said the cuts were “not necessary and will not save much money” in a letter to Mr Khan in June.

He told the mayor: “The cuts have been artificially created by you as a political weapon in your campaign for a long-term capital funding deal.”

Pictured top: Generic picture of a London bus (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/AlexNevinTylee)