Lib Dems Welcome Stay of Execution for Buses (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@secambslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems Welcome Stay of Execution for Buses

June 26, 2011 12:24 PM

An unexpected decision by county Tories to give bus services across the county a stay of execution has been welcomed by Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats.

The decision is a significant victory for the Lib Dems, who opposed the move to axe 100 per cent of bus subsidies - the worst cuts in the country.

They have criticised the Tories, however, for launching a consultation exercise months after the decision to axe bus subsidies was made.

And they have attacked them for ignoring the results of their own budget consultation exercise earlier this year which showed protecting bus subsidies was named among the top three priorities by residents.

Lib Dem Transport Spokesperson Susan van de Ven said: "We are delighted that the administration has listened to us and stepped back from its decision to axe 100 per cent of bus subsidies -- the very worst cuts in the country.

"The fact that proper consultation is only now being undertaken is an admission that the Conservatives made a big mistake. If they had listened when local residents made protecting bus subsidies a top three priority, we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place."

Lib Dem Leader Kilian Bourke said: "This is a big win for the Lib Dems who have opposed this decision from day one.

"These are socially necessary services which vulnerable groups rely on and maintaining them was the single biggest commitment in our alternative budget. It is incredible that the Conservatives are only now beginning to properly look at the impact these cuts will have.

"Other councils undertook painstaking research to establish which bus services could not be cut without isolating people; the county Tories did no such work and simply decided to scrap the whole lot.

"Now they need to accept that they made a mistake and reverse the cuts. Delaying them is not good enough."

Lib Dem Spokesperson for Localism Sarah Whitebread said: "This will be a bitter pill to swallow for those whose buses were cut in the first round. What about the city shuttle? Is it going to be reinstated? Does the county council care about city residents at all?"