Residents took to the streets yesterday to protest the possible withdrawal of a “lifeline” bus service.

Around 20 people from South Oxhey gathered outside The Dick Whittington pub in Prestwick Road to show their support for the 328 bus, which is due to be cut by Arriva on June 2.

They held banners and temporarily stopped the bus in the road, as well as gathering signatures for the online and paper petitions calling for it to be saved.

Hertfordshire County Council has offered the route between Abbots Langley and Mount Vernon Hospital to other providers and closed applications on Tuesday, May 7, with a decision expected by the end of the week.

Watford Observer: Around 20 residents gathered yesterday to protest the decision to withdraw the bus service.Around 20 residents gathered yesterday to protest the decision to withdraw the bus service. (Image: Nikki Ford)Nikki Ford, 48, organised the protest and said the removal of the service would mean “isolation” for the area.

The carer, who lives in Letchworth Close, added: “I just don't understand how they can even think of removing that part of the bus route and not replacing it with something else.”

Watford Observer: Residents held banner and gathered signatures for online and paper petitions.Residents held banner and gathered signatures for online and paper petitions. (Image: Nikki Ford)Her son receives treatment at Mount Vernon Hospital for a long-term condition for up to three weeks at a time, and she said losing the service would make it “extremely difficult” to visit him.

Arriva had blamed the decision on a shortage of drivers locally and lower overall passenger number post-pandemic, which it said meant the service was “no longer financially sustainable”.

Watford Observer: The 328 service from Abbots Langley to Mount Vernon is currently run by Arriva. The 328 service from Abbots Langley to Mount Vernon is currently run by Arriva. (Image: Arriva)

But Nikki said that some South Oxhey residents had lost faith in the bus provision in recent years.

“When you go to get that bus and it doesn't show up, and then the next bus doesn't show up, and maybe even the next bus after that doesn't show up,” she said. “After a certain period of time, you become disheartened with it and it becomes quite soul destroying.”

Watford Observer: The 328 bus is due to be withdrawn on June 2 as it is no longer financially sustainable.The 328 bus is due to be withdrawn on June 2 as it is no longer financially sustainable. (Image: Nikki Ford)Although she does not believe there will be a replacement service by June 2, she plans to continue protesting, including again outside the The Dick Whittington pub this Saturday at midday.

A petition to the CEO of the Hertfordshire transport authority Intalink has now reached over 1,200 signatures and warned its withdrawal would be “a great loss and a lifeline to many”.

Abbots Langley councillor Sara Bedford has claimed that the county council "tried to persuade other bus operators to take on the route", but due to lack of interest, had to put out a tender to operators.

HCC was asked whether there would definitely be a replacement service in place by the June 2 deadline, as well as how many operators had expressed interest in taking it on.

A spokesperson for the local authority said it was working through the process but would only be able to provide more details by the end of the week. 

HCC was contacted for comment on the protest.