Setting the wheels in motion for new 84B bus route
24 August 2023
A critical bus link between Potters Bar and Barnet will start in September, following the council’s ‘bold and innovative’ decision to allocate developer funding.
Starting from Monday 4 September, the 84B bus route will restore direct access to and from Potters Bar train station and Barnet Hospital, six days per week. It will provide an invaluable link for hospital users and visitors, schoolchildren, local businesses and residents.
The decision to fund the route through Hertsmere’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) scheme was made at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the council’s Cabinet on Wednesday 23 August.
The Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Cllr Jeremy Newmark, commented: “We’ve moved speedily to meet a key commitment made by our partnership administration to reverse this bus cut dating from 2022. Reliable, affordable and sustainable public transport is a key driver of wellbeing for local people. Our investment will connect communities across municipal boundaries. We’ve taken a bold and innovative decision to use developer funding to support local transport infrastructure. I urge local people to support this route so that it remains sustainable in the future.”
Cabinet Member for Planning, infrastructure and transport, Cllr Nik Oakley, added: “The withdrawal of the 84 bus link in 2022 between Potters Bar and Barnet caused great distress to many in our communities with several instances of children needing to move schools and NHS staff needing to pay for taxis. Potters Bar residents without access to cars and public transport who need to use Barnet Hospital have been compelled to rely on taxis at a cost of £20-£30 or a very lengthy journey involving two or three buses via Cockfosters.”
“We were committed to providing this service using CIL funds and we have expedited this very quickly, delivering the new route in time for the start of the school term and a new direct link to Barnet Hospital. I know that many in our local communities will be absolutely delighted by this decision.”
The route will be operated by Galleon Travel (Central Connect) and details of the route and timetable can be found by visiting:https://www.intalink.org.uk/services/86b0bf30-0d54-4c22-8dbe-fd28f49b6610?date=2023-09-04&direction=outbound
The CIL funding, totalling £183,600 will be for an initial period of 12 months. Further funding streams are being explored with other partner authorities and agencies, with the ultimate aim that the route should be self-sustaining.