This fight to maintain an important bus service in an area of Epping Forest was making our headlines five years ago this week.

A petition calling on Transport for London to maintain a “lifeline” bus route has received 1,000 signatures in just four days.

The petition, set up by Heidi Chow, 41, says cutting back the 167 route would “significantly impact people who live in Debden or who need to get to Debden”.

Under TfL proposals, the service would only run between Ilford and Loughton Underground.

Davenant Foundation School and Debden Park High School would no longer be connected by the three-times-an-hour service, instead having to rely on a single morning and afternoon double-decker shuttle service on a similar route.

As well as the impact on the community, Ms Chow set up the petition partly because she has a disabled son whose carer relies on the 167 to visit twice a week.

She said: “This proposal will make it much harder and longer for her to get to and from my house.”

There are fears that the new twice-daily 677 will be unable to cater for after-school activities and flexible college timetables.

Other people expected to be affected include Debden commuters who travel to Ilford every morning, and people who rely on public transport to visit Loughton High Road.

Ms Chow said: “This proposal is not only unfair as it impacts hardest on those who are most in need of good public transport.

“But it is also short-sighted as the Central line is already under heavy pressure, and cutting the 167 will push even more people to use an already overcrowded tube line.

“There are a number of proposed residential and commercial developments in the Debden area, this will increase demand for transport not reduce it.”

She added: “One of TfL’s mottos is Every Journey Matters and we want to say that the 167 bus route matters.

“It is extremely valued and well used, serving all members of the community and we appeal to you to scrap your proposals and let us keep the existing 167 route.”

Stops no longer served by the 167 would include Church Hill, Rectory Lane and Willingale Road.

Under the plans, the bus would continue to run between Ilford and Loughton every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday, and every half hour on evenings and Sundays.

TfL said route 20 will not be changed.

Peter Bradley, TfL’s head of consultation, said: “We are currently running a consultation on proposals to change the route of the 167 bus and would urge residents and passengers to give us their views on those via the consultation site."