Lib Dem Minister’s £5M Boost For Transport Welcomed

Cllr Susan van de Ven
(LD, Melbourn)

A £5 million boost for Cambridgeshire Transport from Lib Dem Minister, Norman Baker has been welcomed by the county’s Liberal Democrats and Cambridge MP, Julian Huppert.

The funding will boost cycling, opening up new routes and improving cycle parking, and encourage people onto public transport in key areas of employment and growth across the county.

Julian said: “It is great to see a Lib Dem minister in government delivering on public and sustainable transport for Cambridge and the county generally.

“Norman Baker has shown time and time again that he genuinely understands the problems faced by years of neglect of our transport systems and infrastructure under the previous Labour government.

“In a short time, he has worked to put this right and we are seeing funding for real improvements on the ground. This money will make a big difference to the lives of people in Cambridge and across the county.”

Susan van de Ven, Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport on Cambridgeshire County Council said: “This funding is very welcome, badly needed and desperately important in a fast growing county where we need to avoid congestion and enable people to take up job opportunities.

"I hope that a strengthened public transport network in the county's more populated areas could also have a knock-on effect to more rural areas."

The Local Sustainable Transport Fund grant is designed to encourage people onto public transport, in key areas of employment and growth such as between Huntington  and Cambridge, Northstowe and the Guided Busway and the Cambridge to Ely rail corridor.

The fund allows improvement to a whole range of transport interchanges and practical support for Travel for Work schemes.

It will support cycle parking at Cambridge and Ely rail stations and  the Guided Busway and there will be some new cycle routes

“I hope the fund sees a bigger take-up of public transport as the best way of moving around the county,” added Cllr van de Ven.

Visually Impaired Student Becomes Latest Victim Of Tory Bus Cuts

Warren Wilson joins Lib Dem Councillors,
Susan van de Ven and Tim Stone
at the bus stop where the Citi 7 will no
longer stop

Cambridge student, Warren Wilson, whose sight is failing due to a rare genetic condition, has become the latest victim of Tory county council spending cuts.

The Citi 7 bus that takes him to Anglia Ruskin University will no longer call at Duxford leaving 21-year-old Warren stranded at home in Kingsway.

A decision by the Conservative-run Cambridgeshire County Council to withdraw the Citi 7 subsidy has led to bus company, Stagecoach terminating the service at Sawston Health Centre.

And Warren, who is in the second year of a history degree, has been left trying to find alternative transport to continue his course.

“This makes me really angry and very frustrated,” said Warren. “I am about to enter the third year of my degree; it a big dissertation year and I’ve been left with no transport. I won’t be able to go to any activities.

“I’m trying to put a contingency plan in place but I shouldn’t have to be worrying about this. The council needs to realise that they are messing with people’s lives and money must come second to that.”

Warren suffers from Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy which has led to his eyesight failing.  His whole field of vision is affected leaving it blurred although he can make out high contrast objects, large objects or those which are close and his condition has stabilised at that level.

His eyesight began failing while he was studying A Levels at Cambridge’s Long Road Sixth Form College and he now uses a long white mobility cane.

Despite his condition, Warren retains his independence and with the help of support workers has learnt his return route to university.

Withdrawing the Citi 7 service means Warren will have to learn a new journey which would involve crossing the M11 slip road with the A505 and walking to the station or relying on a bus from his girlfriend’s home in Stapleford.

“The last thing I want is to be a burden on them or anyone else,” said Warren. “I will have to learn a whole new route and new pathways which is totally unnecessary.”

Duxford’s neighbouring village, Whittlesford is also losing its bus service under the latest round of cuts.

The two villages used to share a bus until the route was split in recent years. Warren believes reinstating a shared bus could save money and increase passengers.

“The road layout between the villages makes it perfect for a shared bus,” he said. “This seems a sensible option to me rather than leaving these villages totally cut off.”

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have taken up Warren’s fight in a bid to get funding to save the bus.

And Warren has given his support to a petition launched by Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport: Susan van de Ven which can be found at:  http://epetition.cambridgeshire.public-i.tv/epetition_core/view/Buses

He will also be supporting a meeting on bus cuts and transport at the United Reform Church in Whittlesford at 7pm on Thursday (April 26) which is chaired by Lib Dem Councillor, Tim Stone who represents Duxford on the county council.

Cllr van de Ven said: “It is easy for the Tories to make spending cuts on a balance sheet without thinking about how those cuts are impacting on ordinary people in our villages.

“Warren has battled against all the odds to retain his independence and now that is in danger of being taken away because the Tories need to balance their books.

“I am absolutely appalled by these cuts which are leaving rural communities isolated and causing real hardship to people like Warren.”

Bus Subsidies Roller Coaster

Cllr Susan van de Ven
(LD, Melbourn)

Stagecoach’s announcement of changes to its bus services comes in the wake of the county council’s timetable for comprehensive withdrawal of bus subsidies.

Cllr Susan van de Ven, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, said:  “While there is good news for some people there is very bad news for many others.

“The additional services announced by Stagecoach are welcome, but reflect just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the transport deficit that plagues rural Cambridgeshire. For those people who are losing services with absolutely no warning, the county council needs to step up its game and consider how it will help them.

“The earlier than expected withdrawal of some subsidised services means that the council’s flagship Cambridgeshire Future Transport project has even less time than expected to get in place its alternatives – which it has promised will be ‘as good or better.’”

Whittlesford County Cllr Tim Stone, said, "There are many very worried people in our villages. The county council needs to act rapidly to explain how it is going to re-arrange services in the face of the Citi 7 moves.”

“Whittlesford, Heathfield and Hinxton residents, as well as people who work there, will want to know how they are going to get to work, go shopping and visit doctors and medical centres."

Cllr van de Ven said, “The council has been caught-out because it has dictated to commercial operators a subsidy withdrawal schedule to suit itself.     If the council wants more leverage with commercial operators it should consider a Quality Bus Contracts scheme.”

Lib Dems Welcome £1.7M Cash Injection For Bus Services

Cambridge Liberal Democrats have welcomed a £1.724 million government  cash injection to improve bus services in Cambridgeshire.

Transport Spokesperson, Susan van de Ven said the money should improve accessibility and bus journey times.

“Cambridgeshire Lib Dems have repeatedly called for more investment in bus interchanges, real time and smart ticketing locally so it is encouraging that the Lib Dems in government have responded in kind,” she said.

"Cambridgeshire also urgently needs rural bus routes to be developed. The Tory-run Cambridgeshire County Council has made a mistake in deciding to withdraw rather than enhance its support of so many bus routes, and I hope today's announcement from government will serve as a strong reminder that bus service in all its forms needs support."

Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman Baker announced the grant for Cambridgeshire today (Friday March 23) as part of the Better Bus Areas Fund which is being increased nationally from £50 million to £70 million.

Specific allocations of funding are for:

• better traffic management on four key corridors into the city
• improved interchanges
• real time passenger information
• bus priority measures
• the upgrade of buses
• smart ticketing top-up on street

Government Backs Lib Dems' Free Transport For Young People

MP Julian Huppert has won government support for Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats’ plan to provide free transport for young people to help them find education, training or work.

Transport Minister, Norman Baker told Parliament that he would urge Cambridgeshire County Council and other councils across the country to look very carefully at the idea.

His support came after Julian raised a question today (Thursday, February 23) in the House of Commons.

Julian said: “Liberal Democrat Councillors on Cambridgeshire County Council have proposed a fully funded scheme that would provide free public transport for 16-19-year-olds seeking education, employment or training. Would the minister support such a scheme and encourage Cambridgeshire and other councils to look very carefully at such an idea?”

Mr Baker said: “I certainly would, and I welcome this initiative. The clear reality is such  that some councils up and down the country are providing support for young people to get to education in a way that is better than some other councils.

“This is largely a matter for local authorities. Good practice is out there and should be replicated wherever possible.”

Cambridgeshire Lib Dems outlined their free transport plans in their alternative budget for the Tory-run Cambridgeshire County Council.

Julian said later: “The government’s recognition of the value of this scheme not only to young people in Cambridgeshire but across the country generally is testament to the hard work and thought that has gone into it from the county’s Lib Dems.

“We recognise that we must do everything we can to help our young people access education, training and work. That means removing hurdles such as expensive transport costs so that they can get to training placements and job interviews.

“This scheme has so much to recommend it and I hope Cambridgeshire Conservatives will look at it closely and realise how it could make all the difference to giving our young people a brighter future.”

Cambridgeshire Lib Dem Transport Spokesperson, Susan van de Ven, said: “I am delighted that the government has recognised the value of this scheme to our young people and the benefits it could bring nationally.

“Our young people are the future of this country but if they cannot find education, training or work our future is looking extremely bleak.

“We want to try to remove some of the problems that are holding them back and providing free transport will go some way to doing that. “

Young People Would Get Free Transport Under £80,000 Scheme

Young people looking for education, training or employment would be entitled to free transport under an £80,000 scheme proposed by Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats.

The scheme would be run by Cambridgeshire County Council Locality Teams and would cover all forms of public transport.

Cllr van de Ven

Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport, Susan van de Ven said, “Young people face unprecedented pressures, and the prohibitive cost of transport can be a blockade to opportunity.

“It is unfortunate that the county council not only fails to provide supported transport for young people in this situation, but is actually planning to cut 100 per cent of subsidised bus services.

“Our modest proposal would ensure that every young person seeking education, training and employment would be given a helping hand with making that first step.

"We believe that the principle of wider access to public transport for young people should be developed much further.”

The proposal has been inspired by the train operating company First Capital Connect, which is currently working with the Department for Work and Pensions on a scheme to allow people on Job Seeker’s Allowance free travel to job interviews and forthe first month of employment, when arranged through Job Centre Plus.

Councillor van de Ven added: “In rural areas, some parish councils and community transport providers are already supporting very localised transport schemes for young people. The county council should be playing a leading role in facilitating access and mobility for young people who need it most.”

Lib Dems Fight On To Stop Tories Axeing Vital Bus Services

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats made another bid to save £2.7 million of county bus subsidies today (Tuesday, January 31) as the Tories met to rubber stamp their plans and press ahead with their flawed replacement transport plan.

They fought to reverse the decision after winning the first round of their battle which led to the Tories backing down and putting £1.5 million back into subsidised transport.

And they spoke out vehemently against the plans again today during a Cambridgeshire County Council Cabinet meeting accusing the Tories of scrapping 100 per cent of bus subsidies without a viable alternative plan.

Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport, Susan van de Ven, has launched a petition to stop the cuts to bus services in Cambridgeshire:

http://epetition.cambridgeshire.public-i.tv/epetition_core/view/Buses

She said: “The Tory administration is not listening to the people they are elected to serve. Their plans threaten to isolate vulnerable people, including the disabled and elderly, and people who have no other way of travelling to work. Yet they are still pressing ahead.

“Their new Cambridgeshire Future Transport project, which is meant to fill in the gaps left by the withdrawal of subsidies, is not working.  A pilot in the Duxford area has attracted one customer in two months because there is no research on transport needs underpinning it. The Tory administration is now prepared to sink £1.5 million into this project as the answer to withdrawing bus subsidies.

"The administration has come to a very late acknowledgement that some public subsidy for lifeline transport is necessary - and then is willing to spend carelessly. Vulnerable residents will pay the ultimate price."

Decision To Cut Bus Services Costs County £5M Transport Grant

A legally challenged Tory decision to cut millions of pounds from bus services across the county has resulted in Cambridgeshire losing a £5 million government transport grant.

Cambridgeshire County Council has been told that its latest bid to the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, to help schemes such as Cambridge Dial a Ride, could not be justified in light of the decision to cut bus subsidies.

“This fund would have injected badly needed cash into community transport schemes which ironically were identified by the Tory administration to fill the gaps resulting from bus subsidy cuts,” said Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport, Susan van de Ven.

“This decision to cut bus subsidies has cost the county dearly. The government has made it quite clear that it has no intention of making up the money taken away by the Tories to plug holes in their budget caused by years of financial mismanagement.

“This ill-thought out decision is preventing the county council from securing government money which could have helped some of the county’s most crucial services survive.”

Jessica Matthew, Deputy Director of Sustainable Travel at the Department for Transport invited the council to put in another bid but warned in a letter: “The community transport component was not felt to be justified in the context of other local decisions and the revised bid should not include this component.”

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrat Leader, Kilian Bourke said: “The publication of this previously unseen letter is the first evidence that the government explicitly rejected the bid for £5 million of transport funding because of the Conservatives' local decision to scrap 100 per cent of bus funding."

A sustained campaign by Liberal Democrats against last April’s decision to cut £2.7 million from bus subsidies led to the Tories making a dramatic U-turn and calling a public consultation.

"This is the first clear-cut evidence that the local decision to scrap 100 per cent of bus funding is costing Cambridgeshire money,” added Cllr van den Ven. “I urge the Conservatives to reinstate in their forthcoming budget funding for buses in whatever form, otherwise the council risks missing out on further funding opportunities from central government.

“Sadly admitting they were wrong came too late to save this grant.”

Lib Dems Victory As Tories U-Turn On Bus Cuts – But Fears For Future

Cllr Van de Ven

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats are celebrating victory after the Tories staged a dramatic U-turn over their decision to axe 100 per cent of bus subsidies across the county.

Lib Dems, who had fought a sustained campaign against the cuts for a year, have welcomed the move to invest £1.5 million – just over half the bus subsidies cash – into newly organized public transport.

The money will be handed over the next three years to provide new forms of transport through a one-year old project called Cambridgeshire Future Transport

But Lib Dems have expressed their concerns about Cambridgeshire Future Transport which has a poor track record so far.

Cambridgeshire Future Transport project has already suffered its first failure after an expenditure of £120,000 toward a pilot service in Duxford, launched before Christmas, was boycotted by residents in protest at the prospect of losing their subsidised buses.
                                               
Lib Dems have called for a commitment to continue the financial support to existing bus services, if it is needed, to ensure that vulnerable and isolated residents are not left stranded.

Lib Dem County Council Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport, Susan van de Ven said:  "This partial U-turn is a big victory for the Lib Dems and good news for local bus users.  The Tories have finally relented and accepted the principle that you cannot provide socially necessary rural transport for nothing.

“Abating 50 per cent of the cuts is a big improvement on the 100 per cent cut that was planned, which was the worst in the country.

"This will allow some of the bus services the Tories still intend to cut to be replaced with some form of alternative; it is just a shame they didn't listen to the public's concern and reinstate more of the funding.

 “We are extremely concerned that Cambridgeshire Future Transport is not the best way to deliver these services; in one year it has delivered almost nothing.

“Money spent on the failed pilot in Duxford could have paid for three new mini buses for Cambridge Dial-a-Ride or other established community transport providers.  Cambridgeshire cannot afford to play games with lifeline transport and scarce public money.”

A recent consultation by Cambridgeshire County Council on bus subsidies showed that 37 per cent of residents have no other means of transport and only three per cent of residents supported bus service cuts.

County Tories Making Money On Children’s Cycle Training

Cambridgeshire Tories have been accused of making money out of teaching youngsters to cycle even though the full cost of the courses are funded by the government.

The Conservative-run County Council has started charging schools £15 for each pupil taking part in its cycling schemes – Bikeability and Safer Cycling – despite receiving a government grant to pay for the training.

In the past, the cycling courses had been offered free of charge to Year 5 and 6 schoolchildren.

Susan van de Ven, Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport has questioned the county council on why it has suddenly decided to raise money on the back of the cycle training schemes.

She is worried that schools will not be able to afford the new charges and youngsters will no longer receive the training.

She said: “Bikeability, which is delivered by trained professionals, has full funding available from central government, so the steep county council admin charge makes no sense.

“Safer Cycling is delivered by volunteers, often school teachers and parents. Schools don’t understand why they are suddenly being charged this fee. The cost of £15 per head is prohibitive for many schools and there is a real concern that cycle training take-up will drop off.”

Cllr Sarah Whitebread, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Climate Change, added: “‘Habits taken up at an early age have a good chance of sticking, and walking and cycling bring so many benefits.

“I’m very keen for the council to find a way of making primary school cycle training more accessible. We want to encourage youngsters to see cycling as a viable means of transport so that they continue riding as adults.”