London transport bosses have confirmed that a major shake up to south east London’s buses will be reviewed over time.

Transport for London confirmed huge cuts to vital commuter services last week despite campaigns against its proposals last year.

Matthew Pennycook, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, spearheaded a petition against City Hall proposals to chop the 53 bus.

TfL announced last week that the bus will have part of its route axed, running from Plumstead to County Hall instead of Whitehall.

Despite widespread criticism that the cuts will hit low-paid workers travelling from the outskirts of the capital into central, TfL have also pressed ahead with reducing the frequency of the 53.

Mr Pennycook’s petition was backed by nearly 2,000 people wanting the 53 to go “all the way”, with the MP saying online last week he was “extremely disappointed”.

Since the announcement last week, Transport for London have confirmed that the changes to the 53 will be “continuously reviewed”.

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Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s director of public transport service planning, said: “London and the way people travel is always changing, but our bus network historically hasn’t always adapted to this.

“Parts of our network have become inefficient and unreliable, with too many buses in the same places causing problems with congestion.

“We will tackle these inefficient central London pinch points and free up resources to allow for the growth of outer London’s bus service with these changes, including areas of south-east London.

“The impacts of the shortening of the route 53 would only be noticed by the two per cent of passengers travelling the full length of the route.

“Customers can change at Deptford or New Cross to take the 453 route to complete the rest of their journey for no extra cost, using the Mayor’s bus hopper fare.”

TfL has brought forward plans to consult on a new bus route for Kidbrooke, linking the town to North Greenwich,

Meanwhile the 171, which runs between Bellingham and Holborn, will be cut to Elephant & Castle, and the 172, currently running from Brockley Rise to Clerkenwell, will stop at Aldwych.