Save our bus

BUS passengers are urged to protest against possible plans to cut a vital bus route which serves Epping and Theydon Bois.

Joy Wainwright, of Coppice Row, Theydon Bois, heard a rumour that route 500, which runs from Romford to Harlow, is to be axed because not enough passengers use the service in the afternoons.

The bus also serves Stanford Rivers and Abridge and is the only form of transport for many elderly residents in the villages.

Mrs Wainwright said: "It's a rumour but there's no smoke without fire. If they take the bus away there will be no way we can get to the hospital in Harlow. It's used by a lot of elderly people here, especially elderly widows, and they want to be independent for as long they can."

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Mrs Wainwright, 88, said neighbours had offered to give her lifts but her independence remained "terribly important".

"Arriva is ignoring the people who most need it. The council made a great gesture in giving us free bus passes but they will be no good to us if they take the bus away," Mrs Wainwright said.

She added that although she could use the Tube for part of the journey to Harlow she would have to walk up Station Road from Epping Station to get a bus which would prove difficult. Mrs Wainwright has written to bus operator Arriva to protest about the plans.

She argues that although few people use the bus in the afternoon, a large number of paying customers join the service at Epping.

The company told her it was looking into the matter, adding a final decision will be made in January.

Mrs Wainwright is now asking others who use the route to Write to Arriva and show their support for the service.

Residents of Ivy Chimneys and Centre Drive, Epping, use the bus to get into Epping High Street. A petition calling on Arriva to maintain the service is to be submitted to the bus company.

Epping Liberal Democrat district councillor Janet Whitehouse, who took up residents' concerns with Arriva said: "Arriva said they had no plans to change the service this year. This is welcome as far as it goes, but I'm seeking assurance that the service has a long-term future."

An Arriva spokesman told the Guardian: "We're looking into that service and how we may improve it. It's early stages and we're going to be consulting with Essex County Council."