Transport for London is keeping very quiet about its current debate on whether to keep the 383 bus service from Woodside Park station to Barnet Spires running, or whether to scrap the entire service in July 2011.

I’ve heard the final decision will be made this month, but there have been absolutely no efforts to consult the public on how they feel about the bus service.

While the Mayor of London and the Government are always trying to encourage people to help the environment by taking more public transport, it doesn’t make sense to remove bus services.

The 383 bus is the only bus route which runs to Woodside Park underground station — one of the few stations designed for disability access.

Disabled and elderly people who already have mobility problems will become even more housebound and lose what little freedom and independence they have got if the 383 bus service is taken away and many schoolchildren and commuters will lose direct access from home to their schools and stations.

This 383 route originally went from Woodside Park Station and served even more stations, schools, all the way to Potters Bar Bus Station, and should be extended back to its original route and not scrapped.

Anyone in support of saving the 383 bus route should start writing to Customer Services, TfL London Buses, 4th floor, Zone B5, 14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES and also to the Mayor of London, Mayor of Barnet, and their MP.

Tanya Spensley
founder, Epilepsy Footprint (Barnet)