Transport is a fundamental requirement for those of us who live in the rural areas of our county. Some of the services cannot be run without some form of subsidy but unfortunately Cambridgeshire County Council political leaders do not seem to have grasped that and have decided to remove all subsidy to our bus services.
Cllr Susan van de Ven started a petition in July 2012 which I was happy to support and helped to collect signatures in Caldecote Ward which is affected by the cuts. I presented the petition to Cambridgeshire County council on Tuesday 9th July, on behalf of the originator and everyone affected by the cuts. The item was recorded in the Cambridge News and below is the article in full.
Hundreds sign bus cuts petition
A petition opposing cuts to bus services across Cambridgeshire attracted more than 700 signatures.
The petition, which was presented to the county council’s cabinet today, warned not enough was being done to prevent rural isolation in the wake of the scrapping of council subsidies two years ago.
Commercial operators axed a number of bus services in the wake of that decision.
Cllr Tumi Hawkins, who represents Caldecote on South Cambridgeshire District Council and presented the petition, singled out the Cambridgeshire Future Transport project for criticism.
This was given £1.5 million of the £2.7 million previously spent annually on subsidising commercial services to back cheaper and more flexible services – often dial-a-ride connections.
But Cllr Hawkins said the county council had not given this project enough support in terms of finance and staffing to solve the problems caused by the loss of buses.
She said: “I find it is most unfortunate that the county has allowed the project to lapse in this way, leaving our communities uncertain and in despair about the future of their buses.
“We are still committed to finding solutions to the problem. So far, the county administration has not shown serious commitment to solving the problems it created by the hasty removal of subsidies two years ago.”
Cllr Hawkins said the council should reboot the Cambridgeshire Future Transport project, adding: “If you can’t do that, then admit you were wrong, reinstate the subsidies and give us our transport services back.”
Cllr Mac McGuire, the county council’s deputy leader, said the financial imperative for scrapping bus subsidies was “still valid”.
He said the petition had been started prematurely, arguing Cambridgeshire Future Transport had started to launch successful bus services in the Sawston and Fulbourn areas, serving the needs of residents better and saving money.
Cllr McGuire said: “The Cambridgeshire Future Transport project is gaining local support and achieving real success. The objectives of the project remain important to local communities and officers will continue their work to achieve them so I see no reason to reinstate the 100 per cent cut to bus funding.”