A petition to save the 213 bus route from cuts was submitted to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan yesterday in the London Assembly by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon.

The popular route, which connects Sutton to Kingston via Cheam and Worcester Park is used by 15,000 local people every day but faces cuts of 26 buses a day by the Labour Mayor of London.

A petition to prevent the cuts launched by Sutton Liberal Democrats has attracted over 2,298 signatures.

Commenting Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member & Transport Spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon said:

"Transport in outer London is already far behind the rest of London. Yet rather than try fix this problem, Sadiq Khan plans to make it even worse with these cuts.

"Worst of all he is doing it just after he expanded ULEZ to outer London. You really couldn't make it up.

"I am backing those who have signed this petition and call on the Mayor to urgently reconsider his cuts."

Adding his comments, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson in Sutton Councillor Barry Lewis said:

"You can't have your cake and eat it. The Mayor of London needs to decide if he's going to keep his promise and invest in Sutton's public transport links, or turn his back on our borough by slashing one of our most well-used bus routes.

"The 213 is a lifeline for thousands of local people who rely on it to get around the area and to and from Kingston.

"The Mayor must reverse these planned cuts at once."