In a new report, she calls on the Department for Transport to hold a full public consultation before bringing in any further changes affecting the capital’s transport network.

Earlier this month the Government announced it would give Transport for London £1.08Bn in emergency funding, but as a condition the capital will see a cut in spending on transport projects and look at how it can raise an additional £500M - £1Bn in funding each year.

Elly Baker said: “With the Government enforcing sweeping changes to TfL’s funding and support, there’s going to be a big impact on Londoners’ transport services, their fares, and maybe even their council tax. At the very least, Londoners deserve to have their say.”

She adds that if and when people are asked to return to their workplaces after pandemic restrictions end, increased fares could be a big disincentive to people returning to their offices.

Also this week, passenger watchdog London TravelWatch has called on the Government to delay a review of bus demand in the capital scheduled for July until the autumn.

“We’re really concerned that any review into demand for the bus before most people have returned to work will not give an accurate picture of future bus demand, and may lead to the premature cutting of services,” said the group’s director Emma Gibson.

“This could lead to the bus becoming less attractive to use, with crowding and an inability to socially distance and a subsequent drop in fares revenue. It would also undermine efforts to avoid a car led recovery from the pandemic; and constrain London’s social and economic recovery.”

(Photograph: Champion Hill and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)

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