County Council backtracking on buses? (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

South West Surrey Liberal Democrats <info@swsurreylibdems.org.uk>

County Council backtracking on buses?

December 1, 2004 10:24 AM

Simon talking to a bus driver on one of the threatened routes

Within hours of announcing financial support for bus routes 19, 46, 70 and 71, Surrey County Council has raised new fears about the future of the routes.

In a meeting (Nov 25th) between County Council transport officers Laurie James and Alan Teer and the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for SW Surrey Simon Cordon, the County Council gave an assurance that the new financial support for the four routes was for an "indefinite period".

However press reports based on a statement from Surrey County Council suggest that the subsidy has been agreed only until September 2005.

Simon says this is different to the information he was given. He says that the draft press statement from Surrey makes no reference to a September cut-off point. "I have a copy of the draft press release prepared by Mr James", said Simon. "It seems that between that being prepared and the final one getting out to the press someone at County Hall inserted a time limit of next September on the new financial support".

Simon is now insisting that Surrey's Conservative-controlled Executive Committee clarify the issue. He has submitted a formal question to a meeting of the Executive being held on December 7th. "I have asked then to clear up the difference between the press statement which states September and the assurance provided to me by Mr James and Mr Teer that the funding was for an indefinite period. I accept all spending is subject to normal review but that is different to inserting a September cut-off".

Simon, who led the campaign to save the buses with a petition left at bus stops and a series of questions at key County Council meetings, added: "Next September is less than a year away. We do not want to be fighting this campaign again in less than a years time. I am suspicious that the Conservatives have agreed this u-turn simply to get past the county council elections and the expected General Election in May next year. That's why I am determined to get a clear answer that the support for these buses will be permanent. Nothing else would be acceptable".