Our conversations with people in Harlow showed that there was a lot of frustration with buses in Harlow – including the cost, times and routes.
In 2025 we submitted an FOI to Harlow Council enquiring when the last Bus User Group meeting was. The response revealed it was in 2019.
We hope that our FOI may have given some energy to reinstate the group, after a six year break.
Here are the minutes from that meeting:
Councillor Matthew Saggers chair
Angela Cannon, Harlow Community Transport
David Sellings, Harlow Council
Operations manager Harlow Council
Bus Station Supervisor
Arriva
Central connect
Suzanne Farringdon, Essex County Council (ECC)
Updates
Reason we were asked to submit questions in advance is to get deeper answers
Sustainable transport interchange.
Bus terminus upgrade to encourage 24/7 economy in the area. Transport hub bus station not open until 2026.
Temporary bus station update
Teething issues in part with construction works. Lighting is an issue
Service changes and updates
Central Connect – introduced new service no 24 to Riverway Edinburgh Way. Harlow to Epping through Potter Street enhanced. Tumbler Road now has bus service.
Submitted questions
Maddox Road – no buses but new bus stops, why?
Buses do provide services, can be minimal. Traffic and parking leads to issues in running buses. Did try to implement a system where people wouldn’t be able to park on Maddox Road throughout the day. So many objections didn’t proceed. Commitment to review.
Mulberry Green, no 59 No longer runs through Old Harlow. Why?
Bus unable to turn right onto Mulberry Green. Happy to reinstate if right turn removed.
Andy – Road 4/5 years in the planning. No right turn would be a death trap. Why was there no consultation with bus organisations?
Harlow day ticket across all bus operators
ECC would need a discussion with all bus providers, and will be reviewing
Bus operators by law can’t talk about their ticketing options together. Has to be led by local authority.
Can’t promise that there would be a cost saving as costs would need to be recouped across.
Church Langley/ Latton Farm number 10, regularly late. No bus stop or seating. Can this change?
Removed a trip to the train station to improve punctuality. Shelter – not sure who it is owned by but will follow up. ECC will have a list of planned shelters, going on over 10 years. This one not on there.
Harlow and Essex both own shelters. Different replacement terms/process.
Will take it back.
Lack of bus services in potter street.
Ops manager at Harlow Council – disagrees.
Central Connect main operator of services through south Potter Street every 15 minutes. Can’t do the whole of Potter Street to Epping as it would make the journey times too long. Would it be viable to add another service?
Why has the national bus fare increased to £3?
No clear answer.
Can we introduce a Harlow circular?
Currently ECC not considering any new routes could consider funding in the future.
Grant opportunity open to town councils for £50,000. Not open to introduction of new services but existing ones.
What action is being taken by Essex to look at the bus usage in the town and how it will be increased – can put the roads in, but if you haven’t got the buses, why bother?
No clear answer. 85% operated by Essex
No 10 bus service Burnt Mill School arrives late
Arriva disagrees
Buses refusing entry Stansted bus journey, gates closing.
There are timetables to keep and airport staff should shut the gates
Can the next bus users group be in the daytime?
Yes, and we would like to take it on the road and get to people.
Rainbow Services suggested that their seniors group would like to contribute, if they did come and speak to people.
Could a Playhouse zip bus be introduced?
The temporary bus station too far away: Civic Centre/this end of town inaccessible to some. A zip bus from the temporary bus stop to the Playhouse would help a lot.
407 route start and end – bus stops in the road, unnecessary congestion.
ECC can’t make the changes. Operator needs to review when out to tender in 2026!
Stansted routes seem to be operating at a reduced service. When will this change?
Arriva: Harlow depot about 10 drivers short – best we’ve been for a long time. Hope to be fully staffed by spring, but sickness affects the service on a daily basis.
Age of fleet impacts this – all around 15 years old.
Getting parts over Christmas a nightmare, impacts the service.
Arriva ownership changed last year and will be making changes.
How will you communicate delays in 2026 when the shelter is finished? Digital screens in the transport hub. London bus stops have real time passenger information in just normal bus stops on the street why not here?
Will take that away.
Epping route – cancelled buses. 15 scheduled buses, only 3 departed. Repeated issue since September.
Central Connect – say that the buses do run, but yes, may not run on time. Significant deterioration in traffic conditions since we wrote the timetable in September. Can take 20-30 minutes to get around Potter Street roundabout, and that’s how long the entire journey should take. We can only do so much. Can’t control the traffic. Speaking to ECC.