Sadiq Khan is facing calls to answer public questions about the “devastating” cuts to bus routes in Southwark, with figures showing that bus usage is at three-quarters of normal levels.
The borough’s Liberal Democrats are demanding that London mayor Khan come to a council meeting next month to answer councillors’ questions on the proposed cuts, which would see the 78, 12 and 45 axed, and several other local routes cut back.
A spokesperson for Khan said in response that the mayor was “furious” with the government for pressuring TfL into considering slashing the bus network to save money – but did not say whether he would come to any meetings.
Lib Dem leader Victor Chamberlain is also calling for Labour mayor Khan to double the length of the consultation period, so that it would last until the end of August rather than ending on July 12, in order to give more people time to respond.
A senior TfL executive said that about 9,000 people have taken part in the consultation in the two and a half weeks since it launched, adding that the agency’s experience with public outreach told them that six weeks was enough time.
The Lib Dems also want Khan to host a public event where Londoners can pose the mayor questions on the bus cut proposals.
Bus drivers ‘first heard they could lose route from rival company’
Khan and Transport for London (TfL) are facing pressure from the government’s department for transport to cut costs in order to get more funding, after its finances were massively damaged by loss of fares in the pandemic. TfL is unusual for a transport agency in a major city in that about half of its income comes from fares, rather than being subsidised centrally.
TfL say they want to make a 4 per cent in the kilometres its buses cover to help cut costs in line with government demands. That translates to sixteen routes possibly being scrapped entirely.
The Southwark routes at risk of being axed are:
- The 78, which runs from Nunhead and Peckham through Bermondsey, over Tower Bridge to Liverpool Street
- The 45, which runs from Streatham through Camberwell and Walworth to Elephant and Castle
- The 12, which runs 24 hours from Dulwich through Peckham, Camberwell, Walworth and Elephant and Castle into Westminster
- The 521, which runs from Waterloo to London Bridge, via Holborn and the City of London
Buses in London were loss-making and subsidised by other parts of TfL before the pandemic, to the tune of about £700 million in the 2019/2020 financial year. TfL said even before Covid that its bus network was “unsustainable”.
Although part of the justification for the proposed cuts is falling demand for buses since the pandemic, TfL figures show that ridership was at 80 per cent of pre-Covid levels on June 13, the latest citywide figures available, and has been as high as 90 per cent on some days in recent weeks.
Meanwhile in Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham, the City and Tower Hamlets, the boroughs affected by the proposed cuts to the 78, 45, 12 and 521, early morning ridership was between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels on the week from March 14-18 this year.
‘A kick below the belt’: passengers and drivers react to possible Nunhead bus cut
Cllr Chamberlain said that the cuts would have “a devastating and gutting effect on Southwark and south London.”
“They are especially harmful when we need to be going greener, faster alongside helping residents with the cost-of-living emergency. The Labour Mayor must finally show he cares about the south of the river by halting these bus cuts immediately. Bus numbers are almost back to where they were before the Covid pandemic.
“Our buses are vital to so many Southwark residents and Sadiq Khan’s cuts will hurt the poorest and most vulnerable first and hardest. This is not what a Labour Mayor should be doing. Despite claiming to be green, our Labour Mayor has failed time and time again to stand up for sustainable south London transport.”
Adding context to the proposed bus cuts, Cllr Chamberlain also pointed out that the Bakerloo line extension through Southwark down to Lewisham had been put off indefinitely, and criticised the controversial Silvertown Tunnel, backed by Khan, which will let cars drive from Greenwich to Newham.
The Southwark Council meeting he wants Khan to attend is the July 6 Overview and Scrutiny committee. The Overview and Scrutiny committee monitors the performance of the council itself and other public bodies that have an effect on people in the borough.
Southwark Labour has also called for the bus cuts to be avoided, although they have targeted the Conservative central government for criticism for not funding TfL properly, rather than Khan himself.
Bus drivers, passengers and trade union Unite have also slammed the proposed cuts, with concerns over possible job losses and threat of a strike.
A spokesperson for Khan said: “The Mayor is furious on behalf of Londoners that TfL is having to consider changes to its bus network because of conditions attached by the Government to their emergency funding deals which were only needed as a consequence of the pandemic.
“These conditions included the need to make substantial savings and have led to the proposals for TfL to reduce service levels on London’s bus network. TfL is currently seeking views on it’s proposed changes, and this consultation will run for six week, giving Londoners time to feed back.
“The route changes being consulted on are intended to cause as little disruption to passengers as possible, while still making the savings required by the Government. Passengers can also make use of the ‘Hopper’ fare introduced by the Mayor, meaning no extra costs will be incurred by passengers for changing buses unlimited times within an hour.”
Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s director of public transport service planning, said: “We previously conducted a large consultation on changes to buses in central London back in 2018 and found that six weeks was an adequate time to give people to respond. For this consultation we have seen more responses at the same stage.
“We have raised awareness through multiple channels with widespread coverage across national and regional media, and continue to engage proactively with stakeholders interested in the proposals. If we became aware of people being unable to meet the deadline we would look at the best way to take their views onboard.”
Take part in the consultation here.
Sign Labour’s petition against the cuts here.
why would you axe the 78 bus and the 12 bus knowing that everyone in Peckham use them two bus routes more ,people use the 78 to get to old kent road ,and to the end of the line and the same with the 12 we rely on that route to get to the centre of london if we want to go west end this is madness ,or is it you want as to pay more travel so you can get the money you lost in the last two years.