Councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa, chairman of Watford Borough Council, called the closure “devastating news,” emphasising that it was a service for the community.

He went on to say, “Drivers will face difficulties if they are forced to relocate.” “Already people are struggling to make ends meet – it is a real blow for them.”

The closure has raised concerns about the future of public transport in Watford, with fears that it will exacerbate existing traffic problems. Cllr Dhindsa stated: “Public transport is critical to Watford. “Most roads are already congested during rush hour.

“This will make it even worse.

“We need more public transport, not less.” Peter Taylor, Watford’s deputy mayor, echoed these concerns, stating that the closure could cause a decline in local bus services.

He said, “So many people rely on our bus services, and we must do everything we can to protect and improve them.” “Without adequate bus services, our congested roads will become even busier.

“I will be raising this with Arriva directly.” One bus driver, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, calling it a “disgrace” that a company as large as Arriva could no longer afford to run the routes.

The driver sighed: “I’m being sent to a garage 17 miles away which is basically going to leave me struggling financially even more than I already do.”

George Jabbour, the Conservative candidate for Watford mayor, expressed concern about the closure’s impact on local transport routes. He talked about:

“I am concerned that operating Watford’s existing bus routes from garages outside the town might have a detrimental impact on the long-term viability of the routes that benefit our community.”

Mr Jabbour also emphasised the importance of ensuring that the new development at the garage site meets the community’s needs. When asked about the site’s future, Arriva responded: “We are considering our options.

“Our priority over the next few months is to manage the closure process with the minimum of disruption to everyone concerned.”

The announcement of the bus garage’s closure was a watershed moment for Watford, raising concerns about the future of public transport in the area.

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