Conservatives ignore residents' 'budget priority' and put buses at risk (North East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

North East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@fenlandlibdems.org.uk>

Conservatives ignore residents' 'budget priority' and put buses at risk

January 25, 2011 6:15 PM

Conservatives on Cambridgeshire County Council have ignored residents and decided to push ahead with a plan which could see 57 bus services lost in the next four years.

The move, to cut £2.7 million in bus subsidies which prop up non-profitable routes county wide, could leave elderly and disabled people isolated in their homes.

It comes despite residents indicating when asked in the council's budget consultation that the protection of bus subsidies should be among the county council's top three priorities, only coming behind roads and libraries.

The residents' views were revealed today at a meeting of Cambridgeshire County Council's Cabinet.

"Subsidised transport is vital because it provides access to the wider community and its facilities, including day care, libraries and hospitals," said Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman, Kilian Bourke. "Cutting it cuts off access to everything else.

"These plans will create whole communities where, unless are able and can afford to drive, you will be isolated. The poorest, the elderly, those with disabilities, and rural people will be worst hit.

"The inconsistency with the council's own budget consultation is striking. The public identified bus subsidies as the third most important area to protect. Yet the Conservatives are cutting them completely. They simply do not understand the social value of this service."

The plan will see £594,000 of subsidies for weekend and evening bus services cut in the first year.

In the second year £450,000 worth of support will be withdrawn followed by £883,000 the following year and £813,000 in the final year. The move will leave commercial bus companies running services that are not profitable and it is expected they will be shut down.

Councillor Bourke added: "The argument that the tiny investment in Community Transport will somehow fix things is laughable. Last year the Conservatives cut this budget to pay for the Guided Bus. They are only reinvesting a small amount of that funding. The mitigating effect will be miniscule."