Fight to save 13 bus route from Golders Green gets Lord Adonis’ support

The fight to save the Number 13 bus from Golders Green this week enlisted political heavyweights as Tony Blair’s former education supremo joined the voices urging Transport for London not to cut the route.

Ahead of TfL’s 10 April consultation deadline, Prospective MP Sarah Sackman, Labour’s Finchley & Golders Green candidate, enlisted former Transport Secretary Lord (Andrew) Adonis.

Together they called on Mayor Boris Johnson to cancel plans to axe the No 13 bus, which goes from Golders Green to Aldwych and which is often used by Jewish community members to go to Jewish community centre JW3.

“I enthusiastically support Sarah’s campaign to keep the No 13 bus,” said Lord Adonis, a month before the general election. “It will be a real loss to Golders Green and Childs Hill if it is axed as Boris Johnson proposes.”

Adonis, a former heavy hitter is Tony Blair’s government, said: “Finchley and Golders Green is finely balanced between Labour and the Conservatives.” 

Following a review of passenger numbers and changes to people’s travel habits, TfL have proposed scrapping the 13 and instead extending the 24-hour Oxford Circus-bound 139 route to Golders Green. 

Mike Freer, who is standing for re-election in Finchley and Golders Green told Jewish News: “I met with TfL to make it plain that the proposals are unacceptable and
that they needed to think again. Although making the 82 twenty four hour and increasing its capacity is welcome, it does not mean the 13 should be withdrawn.”

Finchley-born Sackman is flatly opposed, saying: “The changes will cut capacity by half on parts of the route and lead to slower journey times. Nearly everyone in Golders Green and Childs Hill has used the 13.”