Lib Dems condemn bus service cuts after surge in passengers

10.43.21am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 2nd Jul 2010

Kilian Bourke

Lib Dems have attacked county Tories for failing to step in after a major bus operator cut services despite an increase in passenger numbers.

They claim the ruling party on Cambridgeshire County Council should not allow operators to streamline their businesses, denying public transport to people at a time when trade is booming.

New figures in the annual report of bus operator, Stagecoach, reveals that last year bus passenger numbers across the county rose 15 per cent from 24 million to 29 million despite the recession.

But services across the county were cut or reduced by the company which claimed it was responding to pressures from the recession.

Lib Dem county councillor, Kilian Bourke said: "Stagecoach deserves credit for the increase in journeys and its recent investment in green buses, but these figures must come as a shock to bus users whose services were cut earlier this year. The recession was blamed for those cuts, but these figures show that unprecedented numbers of people are travelling by bus.

"The county council should be using its powers to stop this kind of thing happening. It is actively facilitating Stagecoach's monopoly, yet sits on its hands when Stagecoach decides to make cuts.

"Unfortunately the Conservatives have let Stagecoach develop a monopoly in Cambridgeshire - Stagecoach runs 86 per cent of all commercial services - which makes it hard to negotiate with the company. The mess it has made of the guided bus, for which Stagecoach has purchased special buses, puts it in an incredibly weak negotiating position."

County councillor Geoffrey Heathcock: "This news will come as a surprise to pensioners and the disabled who rely on services but found them cut or their frequency reduced this year.

"The county council shouldn't be letting operators streamline their businesses at the expense of social access at a time when business is booming."