Low response could give green light to transport cuts (Leicestershire Liberal Democrats)

Leicestershire Liberal Democrats <info@LeicestershireLibDems.org.uk>

Low response could give green light to transport cuts

March 22, 2012 9:37 AM
By Simon Galton

Leicestershire County Council is currently consulting on proposals to reduce or cut public transport in Leicestershire for students, the disabled and the elderly, which could go ahead if too few people respond to the Consultation, according to the opposition Liberal Democrat group.

Lib Dem Leader Simon Galton said: "The old phrase 'use it or lose it' springs to mind here. If people don't respond, the Tories will use it as a green light to cut support for student transport and travel for the elderly. If implemented, all non statutory travel concessions provided by the council for many years will be removed including taxi tokens for people in rural areas without access to a bus service."

Simon added: "it will also be a disaster for 16- 18 year olds who could face paying an increase of 78% on their current charge of £240. Alternatively the Council is also threatening to remove school transport from VI form students altogether. This would place an unfair burden on families who would have to scrape together the money to pay the increased charge or face the extra expense at the petrol pump.

Liberal Democrats are urging as many people as possible to visit the County Council's website and make their voices heard before the deadline of 2^nd April."

The consultation can be accessed here: http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/your_council/haveyoursay/consultation_current.htm#trans