Recent changes to local bus routes have impacted the lives of many residents. In the fourth of a series of articles, Save Our Local Bus Services campaign organiser Liz Martins reflects on six months of struggle
I am very conscious that whilst drafting this article for the Wanstead Village Directory, it is 184 long days of inhumane and unnecessary suffering for residents affected by TfL’s imposed discriminatory and divisive changes to our local bus services. By the time you read this, there will have been well over 200 days of campaigning struggles.
Back in September, when changes to the W12, W13 and W14 bus routes were implemented, TfL insisted they would require six months to collate data on the new routes prior to making any changes. This in itself is a travesty, with public money being inappropriately used to give TfL arguments to support their discriminatory and divisive changes based on profitability rather than residents’ needs, particularly for marginalised groups and the vulnerable in our community. What more do TfL need? We have given them data and real-life stories regarding concerns about the new bus services.
On 27 February, I and fellow campaigners attended the Redbridge Council budget meeting and submitted a deputation to ask what the council could allow for within the budget as interim arrangements until TfL acts to improve their changes. Shockingly, my request was deemed to be “invalid.” There was no basis for this; indeed, the council constitution provides for residents to be permitted to speak if it “relates to a national or local matter that has a significant impact on the borough.” This was acknowledged by Councillor Paul Canal, the only councillor brave enough to request that standing orders be suspended to allow us to speak. Unfortunately, the chair decided to heed the advice of the monitoring officer and declined our request. We walked out in protest.
Last month, I wrote to Andy Lord, Commissioner of TfL, on behalf of the bus campaign requesting a copy of the six months of data collated and to convene an urgent meeting with decision makers to go through it with our GLA representative Keith Prince, so the improvements required can be put in place to ensure residents do not continue to suffer. We also staged another protest outside City Hall to remind all that we are here for the duration until we get improvements.
The next event we will be organising is to go to Downing Street. If you are interested in attending (we are also permitted to take up to six children), please get in touch. Tickets will be on a first come first served basis, but we do need as many to attend as possible as there will be another protest whilst we are there.
To watch a recording of the Redbridge Council budget meeting on 27 February, visit wnstd.com/27bm
To join the Save Our Local Bus Services campaign WhatsApp group, visit wnstd.com/buswa
To view the petition, visit wnstd.com/bus
