A town will no longer be connected directly to a hospital and shopping centre after a bus service was cut.

The 477 service, which runs from Orpington and through Swanley, stopped running to Darent Valley Hospital and Bluewater – only going as far as Dartford – in October 2022.

This meant many people living in the town who did not drive had no direct way of getting to hospital appointments and back.

After the full service was axed, Sevenoaks MP Laura Trott worked with local councillors to encourage Arriva to re-consider the decision.

The bus company then agreed to a six-month bus trial, which launched on July 29. It was then extended a further four months.

Arriva also changed its timetable to make the existing services “more reliable”.

Just weeks after the trial was introduced, it was branded a “disaster” after the service was impacted by roadworks and timetable mishaps.

At the time, people reported having to wait nearly an hour after buses failed to show up.

On Monday (March 31), the bus company announced the service will no longer be stopping at the hospital or shopping centre – with the last day of service being Saturday, May 31.

Former government minister Ms Trott says she was “deeply disappointed” after hearing the news.

She explained: “The response from residents when I conducted my petition was crystal clear that a direct service from Crockenhill, Swanley, Hextable and Wilmington to Darent Valley Hospital and Bluewater is needed.

“We know residents were using it, albeit not in the numbers Arriva required.

“I will keep fighting alongside our excellent county councillors Perry Cole and Avtar Sandhu for this service to be restated.”

Cllr Perry Cole added: “This is terrible news.

“It is so important for residents, particularly those with mobility difficulties, that they are able to access Darent Valley Hospital without changing buses, as well as for shoppers to get to Bluewater.

“I hope that Arriva will change their decision and give us time to find the additional funding needed.”

A spokesperson for Arriva South said: “From June 1, the 477 bus service will revert to its original route, terminating at Dartford, as the trial extension concludes.

“We’re grateful to the local MP for supporting this trial, but unfortunately, customer demand didn’t meet the necessary levels to cover the additional costs.

“Despite efforts to promote the service, usage has proven insufficient to sustain the extension.

“Alternative services remain: Buses run every four minutes from Dartford to Darent Valley Hospital and every two minutes to Bluewater, with easy transfers at Dartford.”

It has also been announced that the 489 bus service, which runs from New Ash Green to Gravesend, will be cancelled from Sunday, June 1.

A petition has been set up urging Kent County Council (KCC) and Arriva to reconsider the decision. It can be viewed here.

Cllr Laura Manston (Green) has raised concerns over people being unable to get to work and children being unable to get to school.