TRANSPORT for London has “ridden roughshod” over bus users who were not consulted before a much-used service was cut.

Steve Wilks, who lives in Wanstead, criticised TfL for not speaking to W12 users before cutting the number of buses per hour from three to two in December.

Mr Wilks, an accountant, uses the service he describes as “being like a taxi” from his home to either Wanstead or South Woodford Tube stations every day during winter.

The 40-year-old bus user claims passengers who need the service have been treated unfairly by transport bosses.

Mr Wilks said: “I feel they have ridden roughshod over public opinion. 

“There is no legal requirement for them to consult, but culturally they should have been one. 

“By not doing one they haven’t consider other factors to get the best result.

“The decision to cut the service was high-handed. 

“A lot of different people use this bus and cutting it without consultation means people are impacted instantly without recourse.

“They have picked an easy way out and just looked at problems. 

“They haven’t thought about the long term.”

The W12 is the only link between Wanstead and Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone. It also serves George Lane in South Woodford and Walthamstow Village.

Despite his frustration, Mr Wilks said he will focus on getting TfL, Redbridge and Waltham Forest Councils to talk rather than starting a petition.

He said: “A petition isn’t the right way to go about this. I am about jaw jaw, not war war. 

“Everyone needs to get in a room to discuss the issues.”

A TfL spokesman said a consultation was not possible because of the amount of bus routes managed by the organisation.

He said: “When it comes to service frequency alteration we aren’t obliged to carry out a consultation. Consultations are typically reserved for major changes which could be a change or cancellation of a route. 

“We’re responsible for hundreds of bus routes and to extend consultations to include frequency changes as well isn’t feasible, especially considering consultations can typically expect to be open for 12 weeks. 

“In the month since the change from a three times an hour service to two on the W12, we have seen a considerable increase in reliability and we’re continuing to monitor the route to accommodate its passengers as well as possible.”