A campaign group is concerned that plans to switch bus routes will leave passengers “high and dry.”

Waltham Forest’s Save Our Buses (SOB) campaign has warned Transport for London bosses that removing two bus services from Walthamstow bus station could cause travel chaos.

A consultation on plans to switch routes 97 and 357 to stops on the Hoe Street railway bridge is currently underway.

But passengers fear this could lead to fewer buses to destinations in Walthamstow, Leyton and Chingford from the transport hub at Walthamstow bus station.

The group believes those travelling to Chingford Mount would be worst affected.

The current 14 buses an hour at peak times could plummet to just three and passengers travelling to Leyton via Leyton Green could see their service halved.

There could also a 50 per cent drop in service towards Walthamstow Crooked Billet, the group warned.

John Darnell, of Save Our Buses, said: “These are huge cuts in the number of buses from the bus station to some of the borough’s busiest destinations. A small number of through passengers would gain but the vast majority of commuters face more difficult journeys.

“We’re pressing the capital’s transport chiefs to think again before going ahead with these changes. They’ve got the chance to dump this plan and work with passengers to secure real improvements to local bus services.”

Campaigners are particularly concerned that removing access to the 97 and 357 from the bus station will hit people with reduced levels of mobility the most. They say the same applies to TfL’s plan to axe the bus drop-off point alongside Walthamstow Central Station.

John Darnell added: “In terms of access and mobility we should be moving forward, not making life even more difficult. The bus drop-off point gives step-free access to Walthamstow Central’s Chingford to Liverpool Street overground platforms and should remain in place.

“Dispersal of bus stops around the town centre needs to be ditched in favour of improved interchange at Walthamstow Central. This should focus on full, step-free access between all platforms of the tube and overground stations continuing into the bus station.”

Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s director of public transport service planning, said: “We are currently holding a public consultation to hear the public’s views on potential changes to the 97 and 357 bus routes.

“The changes would improve the reliability of buses in the area and help to reduce most bus journey times. Re-routing the 97 and 357 would deliver significant improvements in journey times during the peak.

“The new stops on Hoe Street will be a short walk from Walthamstow Central and the bus station or alternatively passengers could use the Mayor’s Bus Hopper fare by changing at Hoe Street at no extra cost to one of the many other routes.”

Hoe Street railway bridge is 150 metres away from Walthamstow bus station.

TfL added that customers would be notified in advance of any potential changes.

TfL’s consultation on the proposed changes remains open until Tuesday August 3 and residents can have their say at: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/walthamstow-gyratory/