Islington Labour’s ‘Back Our Buses’ campaign has secured an important victory by saving the N271 and 19 bus routes.

Transport for London (TfL) announced plans in October 2018 to make changes to bus routes in Central London, which included cutting the N271 night bus and shortening the 19 bus route. The N271 is the only bus that goes directly to the Whittington Hospital, acting as a vital transport link for NHS staff and patients.

Local Islington Labour councillors, with the support of Jeremy Corbyn MP, organised a ‘Back Our Buses’ petition that received the support of over 500 local people and submitted a robust response to the consultation.

Now, following a consultation, TfL has announced that the N271 bus route will be saved.

In another important win for the campaign, it was announced that proposed changes to the 19 bus route will also not go ahead.

Unfortunately, some other bus routes that serve the borough will be altered, despite strong representations by Islington Labour councillors and Islington Council.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Executive Member for Environment & Transport at Islington Council, said:

“I am pleased that our campaign to protect the vital N271 and 19 bus routes has been successful.

 

“I want to thank Deputy Mayor Heidi Alexander for listening to the concerns of local people, including staff at the Whittington Hospital, who were concerned about the proposed changes to the N271.

 

“We must remember that the changes being made are a direct result of the Tory Government’s scandalous decision to cut funding to Transport for London by £700 million per year. It’s time that the Government realised you can’t run a capital city’s transport system on the cheap.

 

“Maintaining a comprehensive, accessible and affordable transport network across the borough is vitally important, and bus services sit at the heart of this. We will continue to work with the Mayor of London to deliver the transport system that Islington needs.”

Pictured – Islington Labour councillors campaigning to save the N271 bus route outside the Whittington Hospital.