The Hornchurch & Upminster MP has written to the Deputy Mayor of Transport to further object to the significant worsening of bus services after he confirmed that TfL will be withdrawing the 347 bus route.

Armed with recent feedback from constituents, earlier this month Mrs Lopez wrote to the Mayor of London and Transport for London to highlight how the withdrawal of the route would leave many residents without any access to TfL bus services and more exposed to the Mayor’s expanded ULEZ.

Residents on the Cathedral Estate had also warned Mrs Lopez that the removal of the route would force them to walk further than TfL guidelines, and through alleyways, to access alternative services from bus stops without a shelter or seat – something that older passengers may struggle to do.

Instead of listening to local people, the Deputy Mayor has disregarded the community’s concerns arguing instead that they may interchange via an Essex service where TfL travelcards are not accepted and fares are not subject to TfL’s daily fare cap. In doing so the Deputy Mayor confirmed that maintaining Upminster residents’ access to the bus network is simply not a priority for TfL or worth the expense.

Mrs Lopez has responded to the Deputy Mayor, reiterating once again her opposition to the decision and seeking assurances that mitigations to improve accessibility to the 346 bus route for Cathedral Estate residents will be implemented ahead of the route’s withdrawal.

The removal of the 347 bus route was first proposed by TfL last spring as part of the Mayor of London’s supposed ‘expansion’ of bus services in outer-London to better support residents following the extension of the ULEZ to greater London. Mrs Lopez has consistently opposed the proposal, helping to facilitate local feedback which has supported the continued running of the route.

 A full copy of Mrs Lopez’s comments, alongside the Deputy Mayor’s letter, can be viewed below.

Julia Lopez MP's comments to Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport:

Dear Seb,

Thank you for your letter of 21 August confirming that TfL will be withdrawing the 347 bus route.

As you will appreciate, many residents will be deeply disappointed by this decision that represents a significant worsening of bus services for those who rely on the service.

Within your response you referenced recent data showing that the route is not used very much, something which neither I nor the residents who have engaged with me on this subject deny.

Indeed, many respondents highlighted that this is in largely due to the ineffective scheduling of the service and has been exacerbated by the earlier changes to the 346 route introduced last year. TfL could have maintained this vital link to those in the more remote parts of this route, while still delivering the Harold Hill-Upminster connection it originally sought, by merging the former 497 route with the 347, not the 346. The changes made last Spring were bound to severely impact the economic viability of this route, which I believe is evidence of TfL’s long-term objective to withdraw the route.

You have justified this decision by stating that residents in the Cathedral Estate will be 600m from bus stops on Front Lane whilst ignoring the fact that this is over TfL’s target that 96% Londoner’s live within 400m of a bus stop. This is made worse by the fact that neither of these bus stops have a shelter or seat and is particularly relevant when you consider that TfL’s Equality and Impact Assessment confirmed that 70% of the passengers using the route are Older Person’s Freedom Pass holders. I expect that the updated ‘Response to the Issues Raised’ document will outline the measures to be taken to improve pavements, streetlighting and public realm to facilitate access to these services and that the route will not be withdrawn until such mitigations are made.

Finally, you suggested that passengers in Clay Tye Road could access services to Upminster and Romford via the 296 route, operated by Essex County Council, before interchanging on to the TfL operated 370 route. Such a journey would be at an increased cost to passengers given that TfL bus passes, travelcards, saver tickets are not valid on this service and any fares would not be subject to TfL’s daily fare cap.

Operating a bus service at the very edge of London will doubtlessly be less used and cost more than it would towards the centre, necessitating a higher level of subsidy. After imposing a £12.50 daily tax upon many constituents who were unable to afford the replacement of their car, with this decision, TfL and the Mayor have made clear that maintaining their access to the bus network is simply not worth the expense.

I look forward to further comments in relation to TfL’s engagement with the London Borough of Havering to mitigate against the removal of this service and improve access to the 346.

With best wishes,

Julia

JULIA LOPEZ MP
Hornchurch & Upminster