Save Leicestershire buses

At tomorrow's County Council budget meeting the opposition Liberal Democrat group are seeking to save threatened bus services.

Proposals from the ruling Conservative group at the County Council could see up to 26 subsidised bus services in the County being axed.

Proposing the amendment to the budget Lib Dem Finance spokesman Cllr Simon Galton said "£1 million has been identified in the draft budget and is available to offset some of the cuts being proposed. The Liberal Democrat Group believe this could and should be used now to protect bus services and fund measures to tackle speeding in communities.

"These bus routes provide an essential transport link for communities and we want to protect vital bus services by not subjecting them to a review."

Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on the County Council Michael Mullaney said "At a time of a cost of living crisis we should not be removing local bus services which give people an alternative to driving. At a time when we are supposed to be battling climate change we should be protecting local public transport not axing it.

"Many people in rural areas rely on bus services. We should be protecting these bus services not scrapping them. Liberal Democrats believe people should have the choice to access public transport.

"The public want to see bus services maintained. There has been a huge response to the campaign to save the 159 Hinckley to Coalville bus service for example. Well over a 1,000 people have signed the petition to save this bus service that serves many local villages as well as Hinckley and Coalville.

"The Conservative County Council must listen and support this fully costed amendment which will help protect local public transport in Leicestershire."