Lib Dems Demand Answers to Guided Bus Farce

6.46.18pm GMT Wed 10th Mar 2010

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats are calling on the Tories to give total clarity to the catalogue of defects facing the controversial guided bus project.

They want to know when the problems were first flagged up and how they were allowed to drag on until the guided bus was heading seriously off track.

A year after the busway was scheduled to open, a report has revealed that there are design faults with the construction which could affect the quality of the ride.

Flooding at a Park and Ride site and on the maintenance track and water leaking from a bridge threatening its long-term future are also delaying the project.

Despite the fact that the opening of the guided bus is a year behind schedule, Cambridgeshire County Council and the contractors are arguing over how to finish the work; and the council has accepted it will take legal action to settle the dispute.

Julian Huppert, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Cambridge said: "This is a farcical situation which should never have been allowed to happen. The guided bus was a bad idea from the start which has been poorly managed throughout by the Tories.

"Now we have both sides locked in disagreement with no sign of an early end to this dispute. In the meantime, people living near the guided bus tracks have suffered severe disruption and bus services have been altered to accommodate a guided bus which is no nearer to being launched."

Martin Land, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Huntingdon, said: "We need answers. We need to know who knew about these defects, why they were not addressed sooner and why we have got to a position which has to be deal with by the lawyers.

"At the end of the day, it will be the taxpayer who will have to pick up the bill for the Tories' mistakes - whether the money comes from government or local taxes. This is a totally unacceptable situation which should never have gone this far."

Jonathan Chatfield, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for South East Cambridgeshire said: "This project is already over budget and with no end in sight the immense final cost will just keep on rising"

"The Tories have a great deal of explaining to do as to how this project was allowed to go so badly wrong. The public deserve answers."