Tory Bus Cuts Go Ahead

4.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Sep 2003

Many buses cut in evenings and at weekends from January 2004

Surrey County Council's Conservative Executive has decided to press ahead with their cuts to bus services, contrary to the recommendation from the Council's own Transportation Select Committee and despite strong opposition from Surrey residents and the Liberal Democrats.

The Executive decided at their meeting today that the service reductions will now be effective from January 2004. To address the concerns regarding lack of consultation, the Executive has called for 3 Area Transport Consultative Committees to be set up in East Surrey, North-West Surrey and South-West Surrey.

The suggested membership will comprise all County Councillors, along with representatives of the Districts and Boroughs, user groups, Surrey Community Action, parish councils and transport operators. The Committees will be chaired by the County Council and will meet approximately twice a year to consider the provision of public transport and the future shape of the bus network.

Councillor Janet Maines, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, said, "This is outrageous, I am really amazed by the arrogance displayed. The Conservatives even refused to accept the recommendation from the Transportation Select Committee to delay the decision until the ongoing review of public transport in the County has reported. There never was any real intention to listen or reconsider. The decision to set up Area Consultative Committees to advise on the future shape of the bus network is much too little too late."

She added: "I am most worried by the suggestion that there will be further cuts to the bus network next year, and this before any review has been completed. I do not believe that the Conservative administration on the County Council has any intention to carry out any serious consultation either with the Districts and Boroughs or the bus companies themselves."

The Conservative Executive of Surrey County Council took their original decision at their meeting on June 10th to withdraw the services from September. The Lib Dems proposed a motion to the County Council on July 29th which resulted in this being deferred. The SCC Transportation Select Committee then held a special meeting on September 19th which recommended delaying the decision until the ongoing review of public transport in the County has reported. However, today's decision of the Executive is final and the services will be cut from January 2004.

Related Links:

Transportation Committee calls for Bus Cuts to be deferred

Lib Dems force Tories to reconsider Bus Cuts

Tories to cut Evening and Weekend Buses