A PENSIONER who uses the bus to travel to Darent Valley Hospital is fed up with not knowing when his bus will arrive.

Eighty-six-year-old Harry Price, who lives in Moat Lane in Slade Green, slammed Transport for London (TFL) because there are no timetables advertising the 428 service running between Erith and Bluewater Shopping Centre.

Mr Price, who travels on the service between Whitehall Lane in Slade Green and Darent Valley Hospital, said there has not been a timetable at either stop for three to four months.

Buses on this route run every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sunday.

The retired British Rail workshop worker said: "Sundays are the worst.

"You don’t know if you have just missed one or if there is one due.

"If I get to the bus stop and find it has just gone then I have to wait another half hour."

Mr Price, whose wife died five years ago, uses the 428 to attend a friendship group at Darent Valley Hospital on the first and third Sunday of every month.

He meets with other people who have lost their partners and enjoys a lunch meal with them, before relaxing and socialising.

Mr Price added: "I know reasonably well what the times are from using it constantly, but for people whose family’s are in the hospital who are relying on the public transport, there is no hope for them."

When News Shopper contacted Darent Valley Hospital, they said TfL had not provided them with timetables for information points around the hospital or at bus stops.

TfL said it was the responsibility of Kent County Council (KCC) to display the notices, as the bus stops are outside of London.

A KCC spokesman said KCC is not responsible for putting up timetables for TfL services that run in Kent.

UPDATE

Since News Shopper contacted TfL, the timetable for the 428 service has re-appeared at Whitehall Lane bus stop.

A TfL spokesman confirmed a spate of vandalism has affected bus stops in the area and new timetables have since been installed.