A “shameful” change to a Barnet bus route during the coronavirus pandemic has been condemned by the local MP.

The 384 bus was rerouted over the bank holiday weekend despite local opposition, extending the service to Edgware bus station and taking a more direct route from Cockfosters station.

But residential streets on the Bevan Estate and in East Barnet have been dropped, and the bus has been rerouted along already narrow or congested streets like Salisbury Road and Victoria Road.

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has condemned the decision, and called on Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to reverse the changes.

READ: Changes to 384 bus 'sneaked' in during pandemic 

“Many people have a much longer walk to a bus stop,” Ms Villiers said.

“This is especially tough on the elderly, on people with disabilities and reduced mobility, and on parents with young children – but the Mayor just would not listen.”

“Local people successfully campaigned to get the right 384 service back in the 90s and it is shameful that much of it has now been removed.”

More than half (54 per cent) of residents objected to the change in a consultation of almost 1,400 locals, and Labour and Conservative councillors were united in their opposition.

Labour London Assembly member Andrew Dismore also attacked the “appalling” decision to “sneak in” changes when they were announced in April.

READ: Residents take 384 bus petition to City Hall

Residents at the eastern end of Gloucester Road and on East Barnet Road will now have to walk up to 700m further to catch the bus. In both cases, 38 per cent of bus users are elderly, disabled, or children.

But half of the 384 passengers will see no change to their bus stop, and the average extra walk will be 160m, according to Transport for London (TfL).

Just four people used the 60 capacity bus on average before the pandemic, with its circuitous route making the service less popular, the network found.

READ: Councillors demand 'Barnet focused' transport plan from Sadiq Khan

TfL public transport planning director Geoff Hobbs said the changes are “improving connectivity” for residents of Barnet, Enfield and Harrow

“While we are aware there have been some concerns about the service being re-routed, we think the wider benefits make it the right thing to do,” he said.

“The changes are providing the first direct, cross-borough bus route between Edgware and Cockfosters via Mill Hill, High Barnet and New Barnet, as well as a new bus link for residents of Mill Hill and Edgware to Barnet Hospital, with more than a dozen schools along the route also benefitting from improved journey times.

“The route revisions form part of our commitment to growing the outer London bus network and provide better links between outer London town centres.”