The Labour Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville has joined calls by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for a new emergency funding package for Transport for London, which is at risk of losing 1 in 5 bus routes in Hackney, and is urging local people to sign Labour’s petition to the Government.

Mayor Glanville also led a joint letter with 20 other Labour council leaders and mayors from across London, urging the Government to deliver a fair funding deal for the capital’s transport network.

The coronavirus pandemic drastically impacted TfL’s finances, with the transport network seeing a 95% drop in passengers during lockdowns and are still recovering from the financial impact of the pandemic today.

But the emergency funding package from the Government to keep TfL going runs out in four days, and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has warned that 1 in 5 bus routes could close without further government support. 

This could result in Hackney losing up to 10 bus routes that service the Borough just before Christmas ─ the most important time of year for many local businesses.

The Labour & Co-operative Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville, said: “Public transport, particularly buses, is vital to Hackney’s recovery. It is an affordable way for many of our residents to get to work, shop, and get around the Borough to see friends and family.

“A quarter of our residents rely on buses as their main mode of transport and over a half use public transport to get to work. Losing 10 bus routes just before Christmas ─ the most important time of year for local businesses ─ would be a disaster. The Tories are putting Hackney’s recovery at risk.

“I would urge local people to support Mayor Sadiq Khan’s calls for a new TfL funding package and sign Labour’s petition to Transport Minister Grant Shapps to save Hackney’s buses.”

Cllr Mete Coban, Hackney Labour’s transport lead, said: “Buses will play a vital role in Hackney Labour’s mission to rebuild a better Hackney ─ both as an affordable and low carbon way to get around the borough.

“As an inner-London borough with no tube stations, losing up to 10 bus routes will cripple our recovery and our race to net zero. If the Tories are serious about both of these they will give TfL the emergency funding they need.”