Bushey Tory councillors vote to axe all money for 142 and 258 bus routes.
Mike Jackson (centre), Labour councillors Nigel Bell and Anne Joynes with 2,634 signature petition
Despite receiving a petition signed by 2,634 residents and a letter from Transport for London demanding the reinstatement of the County's support for these popular bus services, Conservative councillors including those from Bushey voted to withdraw all financial support from these routes. Labour's Mike Jackson, in presenting the petition to a meeting of Hertfordshire County Council said, "The clock is now ticking and these services are under threat." Read full statement here Read Watford Observer report here
SIGN THE PETITION TO SAVE 142 and 258 BUS ROUTESPETITION
“We the undersigned are appalled by the threat by the Conservative controlled Hertfordshire County Council to withdraw all funding for the well-used 142 and 258 bus routes from Watford to Brent Cross and to South Harrow respectively. These cuts would threaten the very existence of these services from March 2016. We call upon the County Council to withdraw the threat of cuts to these bus services and to reach an agreement with Transport for London to guarantee the continuation of these routes.” Share this petition- get the word out - continue to get others to sign Lets get 3,000
Petition Sent to Boris Johnson and Herts County CouncilPRESS RELEASE FROM WATFORD LABOUR
26th January 2016 WATFORD LABOUR SENDS PETITION WITH OVER 2,000 SIGNATURES TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND LONDON MAYOR AMIDST FEARS 142 AND 258 BUS SERVICES COULD BE AXED Amidst continuing concerns that the 142 and 258 bus services are under threat, Watford Labour Party has sent a petition with 2,269 signatures and comments to Councillor Derrick Ashley, Transport Portfolio Holder at County Hall and to Boris Johnson, Mayor of London calling for the services to be retained. In a letter to Boris Johnson, the local Labour Party has asked Boris Johnson to put pressure on his Conservative colleagues at County Hall to continue their subsidy. The threat to these well-used bus services that run between Watford, Bushey and North London was caused by Conservative councillor Derrick Ashley writing to Transport for London (TFL) giving notice of the withdrawal of all subsidy by Hertfordshire County Council for these routes from March. Central Ward Labour councillor Mike Haley said, “Hertfordshire’s Conservatives are recklessly cutting services regardless of the consequence. Unless TFL foot the bill for services outside their area, these bus routes will be lost or stop at the London boundary. That would have a detrimental effect on thousands of local peoples’ lives and would hit Watford’s economy hard. The response to this petition has been huge reflecting the wide public anger that these critical services are under threat. We call on the County to guarantee these bus services”. Watford Labour Party will continue to collect signatures on-line and on paper petitions and will present them in person to the County Council if the threat to the bus services is not withdrawn. The petition can be signed at www.watfordlabour.org.uk END Contacts Councillor Mike Haley 07412541825 Mike Jackson 07703194124 |
Latest Update 7th March 2016LETTER SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION IN WATFORD OBSERVER 7th March 2016
Councillor Derrick Ashley is trying to create a smokescreen over the reckless decision by the Conservative County Council to remove all financial support from the 142 and 258 bus routes. He writes (Watford Observer letters 4th March 2016), “... that there are no plans to cut these (bus) services.” This is disingenuous. Councillor Ashley neglected to mention that Transport for London (TFL) wrote him pleading with him to reinstate the Hertfordshire support, saying that the loss of this subsidy is ‘significant’ and saying that it was the County Council’s ‘duty to make a fair financial contribution towards these (bus) services’. TFL also pointed out that with a new London Mayor in May and the removal of all central government support for bus services by 2019, these services would have to be reviewed. I presented a petition to the Council meeting on 23rd February signed by 2,634 local people calling on the Council to reinstate the financial support. This was dismissed by Councillor Ashley saying that people had been ‘misled’; an allegation he has made against the media as well. But it is Councillor Ashley who is misleading people by saying that there is no consequence of these cuts and that there is no threat to the services. Indeed he was inadvertently contradicted by a Conservative colleague who admitted that this might result in reduced frequency of the 142 route and if so that would be “no bad thing”. Conservative Party disarray reached almost farcical levels this week when Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden wrote to TFL pleading for the 142 and 258 bus routes to be protected. Perhaps he should have had a word with the two Conservative County Councillors for Bushey, Seamus Quilty and recently elected Jane West, both of whom said nothing in the Council meeting but happily voted through the removal of all financial support for these routes. You really couldn’t make it up! The Conservative MP is right to be worried. It is his constituents in Bushey who, as well as in Watford, would be amongst the worst hit should these two bus services be reduced or removed, and it’s his party that is cutting all subsidy and putting the 142 and 258 under threat. Needless to say our own Watford Tory MP Richard Harrington has remained silent on this important issue. Transport for London’s remit is to run transport in the capital. The clue is in the name. Hertfordshire Conservatives are taking a big gamble that TFL will subsidise bus services in the County. We of course hope that they will continue to run these buses into Hertfordshire but there can be no guarantee. The axe now hangs over these bus services and we must continue to be vigilant and campaign to protect them. Mike Jackson Chair, Watford Labour Party 270 St Albans Road, Watford WD24 6PE Press Release 23rd Feb 2016
CONSERVATIVE COUNTY COUNCIL REFUSE TO REINSTATE SUBSIDY FOR 142 and 258 BUS ROUTES
Despite a petition signed by 2,634 residents, the Conservatives at County Hall voted today to axe the subsidy to these local bus services thereby putting them under threat. At the beginning of today’s full meeting of the County Council, Watford Labour Chair Mike Jackson addressed the councillors on behalf of the petitioners. Mike Jackson said, “The huge number of signatories to the petition is unprecedented reflecting the real concerns of people in Watford and Bushey about the potential loss of these services that are so vital for them to get to work, school and college to shop and to care for relatives.” “The unilateral decision by the County to remove the subsidy sets the clock ticking and threatens the very future of these services.” A letter from Transport for London (TFL) was circulated to councillors stating that the County had a ‘duty to provide a fair financial contribution towards its provision (of bus services)’ and calling on the Council to, ‘reconsider the complete withdrawal of funding’. Mike Jackson said that although TFL had no immediate plans to reduce or withdraw these bus services, the election of a new Mayor of London and the cuts to TFL funding from both government and Hertfordshire put these services under real threat when they are reviewed later in the year. He said, “By withdrawing all financial support now, the County will have no influence or leverage with TFL if it proposes cutting these bus services in line with its reduced subsidy. I call on councillors to reinstate the subsidy and work in partnership with the Mayor of London and TFL to guarantee their future.” Replying, David Andrew Conservative councillor admitted that the removal of the Hertfordshire subsidy could result in the reduction of the frequency of the bus services. The Conservative majority on the Council went on to vote through the withdrawal of financial support to the 142 and 258 bus routes. |
Letter to Boris Johnson Mayor of london
Watford Labour Party
270 St. Albans Road, Watford WD24 6PE
www.watfordlabour.org.uk
Boris Johnson
Mayor’s Office
Greater London Authority
City Hall, The Queen’s Walk
London SE1 2AA
26th January 2016
Dear Boris Johnson,
PETITION REGARDING THE 142 and 258 BUS SERVICES
Please find attached to this letter the list of signatories to an on-line petition. I am sending this to you in your capacity as Mayor of London responsible for transport strategy.
The petition reads, ‘We the undersigned are appalled by the threat by the Conservative controlled Hertfordshire County Council to withdraw all funding for the well-used 142 and 258 bus routes from Watford to Brent Cross and to South Harrow respectively. These cuts would threaten the very existence of these services from March 2016. We call upon the County Council to withdraw the threat of cuts to these bus services and to reach an agreement with Transport for London to guarantee the continuation of these routes.’
You will notice that to date 2,269 people have signed this petition. Although we did not ask for postal addresses it is clear from their comments that the signatories are from the Watford and Bushey areas and from North London Boroughs
We urge you to press your Conservative Party colleagues at Hertfordshire County Council to continue the subsidy from these routes and to guarantee their future. This threat is causing significant anxiety to bus users and the public generally in the Watford area.
We will continue to collect signatures, both on line and on a paper petition and would wish to present this to you at City Hall should the future of these services not be guaranteed.
We are also sending a copy of this petition to Councillor Derrick Ashley, Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Transport at Hertfordshire County Council.
Yours sincerely
Mike Jackson
Chair, Watford Labour Party
CC County Councillors Anne Joynes and Nigel Bell, GLA Member Len Duvall
LETTER TO HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Councillor Derrick Ashley
Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Transport
County Hall, HERTFORD, SG13 8DQ
26th January 2016
Dear Councillor Ashley,
PETITION REGARDING THE 142 and 258 BUS SERVICES
Please find attached to this letter the list of signatories to an on-line petition. I am sending this to you in your capacity as Cabinet member for Environment, Planning and Transport.
The petition reads, ‘We the undersigned are appalled by the threat by the Conservative controlled Hertfordshire County Council to withdraw all funding for the well-used 142 and 258 bus routes from Watford to Brent Cross and to South Harrow respectively. These cuts would threaten the very existence of these services from March 2016. We call upon the County Council to withdraw the threat of cuts to these bus services and to reach an agreement with Transport for London to guarantee the continuation of these routes.’
You will notice that to date 2,269 people have signed this petition. Although we did not ask for postal addresses it is clear from their comments that the majority of signatories are from the Watford and Bushey areas.
We urge you to reconsider your proposal to withdraw subsidy from these routes and to guarantee their future. This threat is causing significant anxiety to bus users and the public generally in the Watford area.
We will continue to collect signatures, both on line and on an equivalent paper petition and would wish to present this to you at County Hall should the future of these services not be guaranteed.
We are also sending a copy of this petition to Boris Johnson, Mayor of London who has responsibility for Transport for London.
Yours sincerely
Mike Jackson
Chair, Watford Labour Party
Some comments left by petitioners
270 St. Albans Road, Watford WD24 6PE
www.watfordlabour.org.uk
Boris Johnson
Mayor’s Office
Greater London Authority
City Hall, The Queen’s Walk
London SE1 2AA
26th January 2016
Dear Boris Johnson,
PETITION REGARDING THE 142 and 258 BUS SERVICES
Please find attached to this letter the list of signatories to an on-line petition. I am sending this to you in your capacity as Mayor of London responsible for transport strategy.
The petition reads, ‘We the undersigned are appalled by the threat by the Conservative controlled Hertfordshire County Council to withdraw all funding for the well-used 142 and 258 bus routes from Watford to Brent Cross and to South Harrow respectively. These cuts would threaten the very existence of these services from March 2016. We call upon the County Council to withdraw the threat of cuts to these bus services and to reach an agreement with Transport for London to guarantee the continuation of these routes.’
You will notice that to date 2,269 people have signed this petition. Although we did not ask for postal addresses it is clear from their comments that the signatories are from the Watford and Bushey areas and from North London Boroughs
We urge you to press your Conservative Party colleagues at Hertfordshire County Council to continue the subsidy from these routes and to guarantee their future. This threat is causing significant anxiety to bus users and the public generally in the Watford area.
We will continue to collect signatures, both on line and on a paper petition and would wish to present this to you at City Hall should the future of these services not be guaranteed.
We are also sending a copy of this petition to Councillor Derrick Ashley, Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Transport at Hertfordshire County Council.
Yours sincerely
Mike Jackson
Chair, Watford Labour Party
CC County Councillors Anne Joynes and Nigel Bell, GLA Member Len Duvall
LETTER TO HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Councillor Derrick Ashley
Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Transport
County Hall, HERTFORD, SG13 8DQ
26th January 2016
Dear Councillor Ashley,
PETITION REGARDING THE 142 and 258 BUS SERVICES
Please find attached to this letter the list of signatories to an on-line petition. I am sending this to you in your capacity as Cabinet member for Environment, Planning and Transport.
The petition reads, ‘We the undersigned are appalled by the threat by the Conservative controlled Hertfordshire County Council to withdraw all funding for the well-used 142 and 258 bus routes from Watford to Brent Cross and to South Harrow respectively. These cuts would threaten the very existence of these services from March 2016. We call upon the County Council to withdraw the threat of cuts to these bus services and to reach an agreement with Transport for London to guarantee the continuation of these routes.’
You will notice that to date 2,269 people have signed this petition. Although we did not ask for postal addresses it is clear from their comments that the majority of signatories are from the Watford and Bushey areas.
We urge you to reconsider your proposal to withdraw subsidy from these routes and to guarantee their future. This threat is causing significant anxiety to bus users and the public generally in the Watford area.
We will continue to collect signatures, both on line and on an equivalent paper petition and would wish to present this to you at County Hall should the future of these services not be guaranteed.
We are also sending a copy of this petition to Boris Johnson, Mayor of London who has responsibility for Transport for London.
Yours sincerely
Mike Jackson
Chair, Watford Labour Party
Some comments left by petitioners
- These proposed bus service cuts are bad for Watford people and businesses. They should be reversed.
- I have used these services all my life and am outraged that they may be cut.
- I use the 258 to get to college every morning. This is stupid they expect my mother to fork out £10s a day to get to college and back. How stupid.
- Madness
- .These bus routes are a lifeline. Please don't cut them
- I use this service regularly
- If these buses go I will not be able to get to work!
- The 142 & 258 not only provide transport for consumers but also students. Watford West Herts College campus delivers post GSCE, A/As Level & ubder graduate courses. students require afordable, intergrated transport for the surrounding areas.
- How wil my girls get to school ? Thanks conservative Herts council
- My son can't get to school without these buses
- this will affect a lot of Harrow students who attend West Herts College. I am a careers adviser in Harrow.
- Shocked to hear of cuts as I use buses regularly - as a pensioner it is a crucial service.
- I use this service to return from work in late evening. No other option.
- i often use this bus as do lots of commuters , schoolchildren, and pensioners . It is a lifeline.
- How will people without cars be able to travel between Watford and Stanmore. I thought the idea was to promote public transport not cut a vital life line.
PRESS RELEASE
Labour launches petition to save 142 and 258 bus services
Labour has launched a petition (see below) in Watford to save the popular 142 and 258 bus routes. The Conservative controlled Hertfordshire County Council is planning to slash all funding for the well-used bus routes from Watford to Brent Cross and to South Harrow respectively from March 2016.
Councillor Nigel Bell, Watford Labour Group Leader said, “It is madness to cut this funding. These are popular routes from Watford into North London that are used by thousands of local residents to get to work, shop or visit families. These Tory cuts threaten to close the services from 1st April. This must not be allowed to happen”.
Central ward Councillor Labour’s Mike Haley said, “This is very bad news for local residents but also for town centre shops. Thousands of people shop in Watford using these buses to get from Harrow, Barnet and Brent. It’s an economic blow for Watford town centre. Today we are launching a petition to save these bus services”
Contacts; Nigel Bell 07783812703
Mike Haley 07412 541825
17th December 2015
Labour launches petition to save 142 and 258 bus services
Labour has launched a petition (see below) in Watford to save the popular 142 and 258 bus routes. The Conservative controlled Hertfordshire County Council is planning to slash all funding for the well-used bus routes from Watford to Brent Cross and to South Harrow respectively from March 2016.
Councillor Nigel Bell, Watford Labour Group Leader said, “It is madness to cut this funding. These are popular routes from Watford into North London that are used by thousands of local residents to get to work, shop or visit families. These Tory cuts threaten to close the services from 1st April. This must not be allowed to happen”.
Central ward Councillor Labour’s Mike Haley said, “This is very bad news for local residents but also for town centre shops. Thousands of people shop in Watford using these buses to get from Harrow, Barnet and Brent. It’s an economic blow for Watford town centre. Today we are launching a petition to save these bus services”
Contacts; Nigel Bell 07783812703
Mike Haley 07412 541825
17th December 2015