Transport for London have been accused of being “bought off” after it was revealed a resident paid £11,000 to have a busy bus stop moved from outside their Maida Vale home.

The unknown homeowner who lives in Abercorn Place, one of the most exclusive streets in the area, funded the operation to relocate the bus stop five minutes down the road.

According to furious commuters the move was done without prior warning or consultation with them.

Susan Segal, 72, who relies on the regular 98, 16 and 332 services to take her to her daily shop in Kilburn was shocked to find the stop had vanished six weeks ago.

She is leading calls for TfL’s ombudsman to return the stop to the spot it occupied for 35 years.

She said: “I looked across the street and thought ‘where’s the bus stop?’ and it was gone.

“We’re very annoyed, there’s been no consultation and we can’t see that it was necessary. It’s a public bus stop so how can somebody just pay to have it moved?

“I think it’s disgusting. It looks like anybody who has the money can pay the council and TfL.

“Now there’s a long block with no bus stop and bringing shopping home is a nightmare for us senior citizens- it’s terrible.”

After she complained to TfL, Dave Finlow, a customer services adviser, confirmed in a letter: “We did indeed move the stop to accommodate a dropped kerb.

“This was requested (and the full costs to the council and TfL paid for) by a local resident.”

Documents seen by the Wood & Vale reveal a joint TfL and council decision was made to relocate the stop to its new position between Hall Road and St John’s Wood Road after two homeowners complained the stop and its seated shelter were “obstructing them from accessing their property easily.”

Labour Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, who is backing the residents’ campaign to have the bus stop reinstated, said: “It looks like another case of ‘money talks’ if one household is able to pay to move a bus stop like this.”

Ian Stanton, TfL’s regional infrastructure manager for west London, said: “The bus stop was relocated at the request of a local resident who needed vehicular access to their property at all times.

“The cost of relocating the bus stop was met entirely by the resident.

“The new bus stop continues to be served by route 16, 98 and 332 services and also, for the first time, is served by route 46 and 187 services.”