Council fights to save threatened Potters Bar bus route

Transport for London (TfL) is consulting on withdrawing part of a Potters Bar bus route, which has sparked intervention from Hertsmere Council.

TfL has consulted on proposals to restructure route 298, which currently runs between Arnos Grove and Potters Bar’s Cranborne Road industrial estate during the daytime on Mondays to Fridays.

The bus currently terminates at Potters Bar station on the evenings and weekends, and TfL is proposing to withdraw the section of the route which goes to the industrial estate, meaning the route will terminate at the station on both weekdays and weekends.

Councillor Seamus Quilty, portfolio holder for enviroment and transport, said: “We decided to raise concerns about the withdrawal of this section of route 298 as it’s the only bus route directly serving Cranborne Road Industrial Estate, a busy and thriving business hub in Potters Bar.

“It’s also the only bus route serving residents of Cranborne Road and adjoining streets and comes at a time when a number of commercial bus operators in the borough are actually planning to extend some of their services.

“The consultation itself contained no information about passenger numbers but the Cranborne Road Industrial Estate is also home to the Wenta Business Hub at The Enterprise Centre, as well as numerous other successful businesses which are primarily small or medium sized.

“There are no reasonable alternatives to the 298 for most of the current passengers, many of whom would need to walk at least one kilometre to the nearest dropping-off point of the 298 or other bus routes.

“As part of our response to the consultation, we have asked for more information about passenger numbers and we’ve explained that we’d be happy discuss this matter further.”