Local MPs Bob Neill and Jo Johnson have secured a commitment fromTFL to consult over any permanent changes to the 61 and 273 bus routes following the successful completion of railway bridge reconstruction work on Chislehurst Road.
The two MPs held a meeting with TFL’s head of surface transport, Leon Daniels, on Wednesday. The meeting was also attended by London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley James Cleverly and Deputy Leader of LB Bromley, Colin Smith.
TFL has announced that the 61 bus will revert on Saturday to the route it had taken prior to the closure of Chislehurst Bridge, while the 273 will remain on diversion pending the outcome of a consultation over both routes in the spring.
All 61 buses will run via Chislehurst Road to Petts Wood and will no longer serve Leesons Hill, St. Mary Cray and Poverest Road. These areas will continue to be served by route 273.
Bob Neill, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, said: “Customers on both the original and diversion routes deserve access to convenient and practical bus services, and the current proposals are a compromise designed to reflect this.
"TfL have now given us a firm commitment to review these arrangements in the spring, by which time we should have a good sense as to whether the changes are working in practice. I am glad that TfL have taken on board the points that we made on behalf of residents and I would encourage everyone to let TfL know what they think.”
Jo Johnson, MP for Orpington, said: “TFL understands that the views of residents who use these vital community links must be taken into account when we assess whether the changes are working next Spring. It was a good meeting and I look forward to seeing the passenger usage figures that we have been promised.”