Residents of a tiny town just north of the M25 have said that the axing of a London bus route has ‘taken away people’s legs’. The move, people living in Waltham Abbey said, is contradictory as officials seek to persuade people to use public transport rather than their cars.
Arriva withdrew the former route 505, between Harlow and Chingford and serving Waltham Abbey, in 2015 due to a lack of passenger demand, with the service running at a loss. The service was then taken over by operator Trusty Bus who have subsequently withdrawn this route.
Alison Amdur, 64, runs an MOT garage in the area, where she has lived for 28 years. She said that the loss of the service has ‘taken a lot of people’s legs away’.
Ms Amdur told MyLondon: “I know people who used it, but the transport system round here is dreadful anyway. The more they take away, the more isolated it becomes, especially for older generations. It’s not the easiest place to get to.”
A 73-year-old former nanny, who did not wish to be named, used to use the 505 bus. She said: “We could do with it. I used it to go to Chingford – there’s nothing else better to do, I’m an elderly lady.
“I hate it when a bus disappears. You’ve got people here, they want to go either go to work or they do [other] things. It’s always convenient. I don’t like being here on our own all the time, it’s nice to get going somewhere.”
Beverly Williams, 61, a retired bank manager, uses a car to get around. Ms Williams said: “Anything we can get around here is going to be good. The transport links around here are shocking. I’ve been here for 15 years and I do drive more because I can’t get anywhere on the buses around here.”
“If there was a regular bus it would hugely make a difference to me. Also, the buses around here in the evenings stop at about 7.30pm in the evening – that’s no good to anyone.”
A 60-year-old builder has lived in Waltham Abbey for 18 years, said: “You’re throwing up all this not using cars and push for more public transport, then you go and take it off. It’s defeating the object of it, isn’t it?
“They’re preaching one thing – if you’re not going to carry it out, what’s the point?” He also noted that the area is ‘only up the road’ from the capital’s ULEZ, which was expanded by Sadiq Khan in August.
Sitting outside a cafe in Sun Street was Susan McClymont, 71, a retired sales administrator. She said: “They should [bring it back] – it’s like we’re lost up this end.”
Sitting with Susan was Janet Hooker, 68, who used to work in social services. She said: “We’re the ones that are left behind – it’s like that all the time […] It’s like we’re forgotten in the abbey. They want you to use more transport, then they’re stopping the transport. What are you meant to do?”
“They don’t want you to use a car. I don’t get the logic. You’ve got to have an alternative. You can’t afford cabs all the time – they’re expensive. You’ve got to have choice, that’s what we’re supposed to be having.”
Tracy Westwood, 57, has lived in the area since she was 13. She said: “You’ve got the college there [in Chingford], you’ve got the hospital there. If you want to visit or got an appointment […] you can’t get to appointments easily at Harlow or the A&E.” She added that the cut was therefore ‘very dangerous’ as locals ‘can’t get to any other hospital’ if they have not got a car.
However, a 53-year-old resident, who did not want his name included, mentioned environmental concerns. He said: “You don’t want to be running buses if they’re empty”.
In 2017, TfL extended route 215 all year from Yardley Lane Estate to Lee Valley Campsite, which connects to the southern end of Sewardstone Road, to better serve those in and around the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Passenger data shows this route is consistently not in high demand, making an extension to Waltham Abbey ‘unlikely at present’.
London Assembly calls on TfL to restore or extend bus links
On February 8, the London Assembly called on TfL to restore a ‘frequent, daily bus link’ between Waltham Abbey and Chingford either by extending route 215, route 379 or both, to at least Waltham Abbey Town Centre.
Conservative London Assembly Member, Emma Best, who proposed the motion, said: “I’m delighted my Assembly colleagues agreed today to support our motion calling on TfL to restore frequent, daily buses between Waltham Abbey and Chingford. This can be achieved by extending bus route 215 or 379.”
“There is currently no bus service Waltham Abbey and Chingford. This route previously ran every day with buses every 10 to 30 minutes from early mornings to late evenings. We need this level of service restored.”
Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s Director of Public Transport Planning, said: “As London’s transport authority, our priority is providing a comprehensive and reliable bus service across the whole of London, allocating services to areas based on customer demand with the resources we have. There are nine bus routes operating under contract to TfL between Greater London and Waltham Cross, Loughton or Debden for onward travel in Essex. These complement the public transport services outside London that are provided by commercial bus operators and local councils.”
TfL Standing Orders state that the mayor must ensure at least two board members represent the interests of those living, working and studying in areas outside Greater London that are served by railway passenger services in respect of which TfL carries out functions or is likely to do so.
