Planned cuts to bus services running to and from Bluewater have been postponed.

Transport for London (TfL) is planning to shorten its 428 route starting from Crayford and stop the 492 service operating between Bluewater and Dartford town centre.

The 428 would continue to run to and from Erith and Crayford, with double deckers instead of single deckers.

Customers intending to travel to/from Dartford, Darent Valley and Bluewater could interchange at Crayford via route 96 – using the "hopper fare".

But three school-day only peak-hour journeys would be scrapped.

It was originally planned to take effect in January but has since been postponed following a public consultation.

TfL said it was now looking at these responses and all services would remain the same in the meantime.

A statement from the transport body reads: "We received a large number of responses to the consultation on these proposals and are currently analysing these.

"While this is happening, the routes will remain as they are. The proposals will not be implemented in January.

"If any changes are to be made to these bus routes, we will confirm the date of this when we announce our final decision on whether or not to proceed with our proposals."

TfL's subsidy from the government is coming to an end which means it is looking to make cuts to existing buses and has identified north Kent for savings.

It says it has no "statutory responsibility" to operate to and from destinations in Kent, but the 96 route would provide a service from both towns to the shopping centre.

It claimed these changes would "better match bus capacity to customer demand".

Residents have previously expressed concerns the changes to the timetable could affect schools and workers relying on the services.

Angry councillors met at Dartford's civic centre in September to air their frustration at the transport body's proposal to scrap parts of the routes.

Council leader Cllr Jeremy Kite (Con) told the cabinet at the time it was "poor" from TfL, adding they would be putting in a response opposing the changes.

The notion has cross-party support with shadow leader Cllr Laura Edie launching a petition on behalf of the Dartford Labour group to save the services.

It has gathered more than 1,500 signatures to date.

Cllr Kelly Grehan (Lab), who represents the Stone House ward, said staff travelling to work at Darent Valley could be put at risk, particularly those changing at an early time in the morning or late at night following a shift.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford

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