Letter: Don't cherrypick bus routes

As a frequent user of this bus, I can confirm that it is well-used, even in the off-peak daytimes, though the number of passengers is often augmented, especially in the afternoons, by the tendency to arbitrarily cut out buses.

Thus, the only conclusion can be that it is “inconvenient” for Arriva to serve north Watford and the Meriden estate from its “new” depot outside Hemel Hempstead. The closure of Garston garage is therefore the catalyst, and one can only wonder what other cutbacks are in the pipeline. It should be remembered that Arriva are presumably pocketing the tens of millions of pounds of development profit, or, more likely, returning it to Germany where its public transport remains lavishly subsidised.

It is all the more galling because on August 25, 2017 the Watford Observer published a letter from me covering these points, and another on September 29, written to complain that no official reply had been forthcoming to the first. Since then, no further information has appeared from the councillors or officials, except that the closure is going ahead, and it can be assumed that there has been no clawback position so the public can get at least a proportion of the development booty.

I note that several councillors have now raised their voices in complaint, but what were they doing when Watford and Herts councils allowed the proposal to pass, in apparent contradiction of their own transport policy? Bus routes should not be arranged for the convenience of the operator - hitherto Arriva has been allowed to cherry-pick on the 324, not operating the late evening and Sunday services. Herts County Council is particularly negligent, as I am aware of one local “bus” route actually using minivans with no space or access for buggies or wheelchairs. Furthermore all the route maps in Watford date from 2014, so are worse than misleading. When will the elected authorities take control?

Michael Kings

Highwood Avenue, Bushey