Popular bus routes serving Kent’s biggest shopping centre and a hospital could be reduced or cut due to an increased “bus tax” charge.
Transport for London (TfL) is reviewing its bus services to Darent Valley Hospital and Bluewater after Kent County Council (KCC) asked for a “significant increase” in the fee to use the Fastrack busway.
TfL believes this would “impact the financial sustainability of the service”, and has put its future at risk.
A spokesperson added: “We know buses are an important lifeline for millions. We are committed to continually reviewing our services and ensuring they remain value for money.
“We receive no funding from KCC or Dartford council for the services we run and Kent charges TfL for the use of the Fastrack busway between Darent Valley Hospital and Bluewater.
“Kent has recently asked TfL for a significant increase in that contribution, which would impact the financial sustainability of the service.
“This change has prompted TfL to review affected buses. Any proposed changes to destinations of routes would be subject to a full public consultation.”
The 96 bus route runs between Woolwich and Bluewater, passing through Plumstead, Welling, Bexleyheath, Crayford, Dartford and the hospital. The 428 runs between Erith and Bluewater, passing through Slade Green, Crayford, Dartford, and the hospital.
The 492 bus, which runs between Sidcup and Bluewater, could also be impacted.
Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite told KentOnline that the situation is “quite alarming”.
He explained: “There’s always been a really good relationship between TfL and KCC, and something has clearly changed.
“It’s a hugely important service. People getting to hospital could hardly be more important and getting to it from Bluewater is a very popular journey.
“I hope KCC will understand that these services aren’t just about revenue generation; they’ve got to be about social impact as well.
“At the end of the day, it’s the passengers and the communities that will lose out, and I hope KCC will understand that. We have to wait and see.”
He says that the situation is “disappointing” as “we should be doing everything we can to get people back on buses”.
“It’s so good for the environment and the economy,” he added. “It encourages a lot of people from London to come to Bluewater.
“We should be looking at buses as being part of the solution and not a bit of a cash cow, so I’m hoping that isn’t the case at KCC and I’m hoping that they will work together with TfL to resolve it.
“It seems really counterintuitive that a really popular service could be under this kind of threat because someone’s trying to get some extra money out of it.
“We are absolutely opposed to this. We’ve got to work together holistically to make sure the buses keep running”
Minutes taken from a Dartford council meeting on March 3 state that actions underway included discussions with TfL about their plans to terminate buses at Dartford and not continue to the hospital and Bluewater.
They state: “Such a move would deprive residents in the borough of bus travel into London.”
KCC’s Fastrack development manager Shane Hymers added that Fastrack felt it would be able to fill this void if the TfL buses to DVH and Bluewater were withdrawn.
The report states: “The principal transport planner advised that Dartford council had indicated it opposed the curtailing of TfL bus services to the hospital and Bluewater, and that TfL should also be engaging with the council on this matter too.
“He felt that more information from TfL was needed so that the council take this matter up further and be involved in future discussions.”
Dartford MP Jim Dickson has written to the KCC leader, Linden Kemkaran, alongside Bexley and Crayford MP Dan Francis and Erith and Thamesmead MP Abena Oppong-Asare.
They say recent discussions have suggested TfL is being “forced” to consider changes to its bus routes due to “new financial demands, in effect a substantial increase in the ‘Bus Tax’ charge” by KCC.
The trio have also written to TfL to request an “urgent meeting” about the issue and to outline that they will oppose any changes.
A letter said: “We have however been horrified to discover that a significant factor in these discussions has been the decision that Reform led Kent County Council are asking TfL for a significant financial increase for them to use the Fastrack busway between Darent Valley Hospital and Bluewater.
“Routes 96, 428 and 492 are key services for both patients and staff at Darent Valley Hospital, as well as customers and staff at Bluewater.
“Regardless of whether passengers live on the Kent or London side of the boundary, this ill thought through increase in charge will have an impact on many residents.
“We therefore believe that when proposing this charge increase, that no consideration has been given of the potential impacts for residents, businesses or the hospital if there were to be a resulting reduction in services.
“While we will continue separate conversations with TfL to try to maintain these services, we ask for confirmation that Kent County Council will urgently reconsider their bus-tax proposals to increase your charge for buses to serve Bluewater Shopping Centre.
“We believe this commitment will assist us in demonstrating to TfL that the removal of this charge will allow them to ensure bus services can continue uninterrupted and our constituents can continue to use them.”
A KCC spokesperson said: “In 2017, KCC and TfL agreed a fee that allows TfL service 96 to use part of the Fastrack busway to serve the Darent Valley Hospital.
“Since then, that fee has not changed despite significant rises in costs. KCC has now asked TfL to pay a fair market rate to continue using the stretch.
“KCC continues to support services in the area and is working closely with TfL to ensure passengers can access local amenities and destinations, including Darent Valley Hospital.
“While we are unable to comment further at this stage, we can confirm that discussions are ongoing and that services remain available.”
