Hackney buses "saved" after thousands sign petition

But routes 26 and N26 will be changed to minimise the impact of withdrawn routes elsewhere in the capital.

The 26 runs from St Mary of Eton Church in Hackney Wick to Waterloo Waterloo Road in Southbank and the N26 runs from Trafalgar Square to Chingford.

The news came as TfL announced the results of its August consultation on cutting bus routes today (Wednesday, November 23).

In a column for the Gazette, Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville credited a Hackney Labour petition signed by 5,000 residents and presented to the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

He said: "Hackney's buses have been saved thanks to your support and the 5,000 residents that signed Hackney Labour's petition, calling on the government to act.

"While the Government didn't listen, following our campaign, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has stepped in to save Hackney's bus routes under threat from Conservative cuts.

"Vital services like the 236 will continue to serve communities across Hackney, providing a more affordable and greener way to get to school, work, hospitals or local shops."

Throughout London, only three bus routes out of TfL's 620 services will now go. The 507 and 521 will be withdrawn, the N16 will be renumbered N32, routes 11 and N11 restructured and route 16 will run on route 332 between Brent Park and Paddington.

TfL announced a six-week public consultation on reshaping the central and inner London bus network on June 1. 

This was due to the fact emergency government funding was needed by TfL as a result of the pandemic.

This financial support was provided on conditions, including the need for TfL to reduce operating expenditure. The plan included reducing the extent of the bus network by four per cent by 2024/2025.

More than 70 routes were originally proposed to be affected, including the 236, 476, 242, 56, 47, 78, 277, 254, 259, 279, 349 and 26.

The mayor of London said: "I was furious on behalf of Londoners that TfL was having to consider reducing the bus network due to conditions attached by the government to the funding deal.

"The strength of feeling across the capital was clear to me, and I was adamant that I would explore every avenue available to me to save as many buses as possible."

Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville, presented a letter to Mayor Sadiq Khan about bus cuts November 11, joined by London Assembly member for Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest, Cllr Sem Moema and the Deputy Mayor of Hackney, Anntoinette Bramble (Image: Hackney Labour)

Mr Glanville outlined how one in four Hackney residents rely on buses to get around yet 12 bus routes in Hackney were at risk of being cut or reduced under the TfL proposals. 

"That's a quarter of all routes in Hackney," he added.

"We know why TfL was in this position - they were being used as a political football by this Conservative government, determined to level down London.

"So we took out campaign to 10 Downing Street and called for a proper funding deal for TfL to save our buses.

"Sadly, Hackney's communities were once again ignored by the Conservatives, so I am delighted that the mayor of London Sadiq Khan responded to our plea and saved our buses."

Mr Glanville added: "Buses help lower congestion and pollution, especially since the progress Mayor Sadiq Khan has made to reach a zero-emissions bus fleet, cutting bus-related nitrogen emissions by 90%.

"They are also the most affordable public transport available to our residents - vital during the current cost of living crisis when people are watching every penny they spend.

"We know how worried people are about rising bills and costs, especially as energy billes go up this winter. 

"We've been standing up for Hackney, lobbying the government for more support, for benefits to rise with inflation, to close the loopholes in their household energy support, and calling on them to stop a further wave of austerity."

The consultation report can be found at haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/busreview.