Putting a stop to bus cuts? Council expected to debate changes to controversial proposals

The possibility of amending the controversial proposals – which would see all funding to services that run after 6.30pm daily and any that run on a Sunday withdrawn – will be discussed at a meeting of the Herts highways and waste management cabinet panel tomorrow.

The county’s Liberal Democrats have led much of the protest against the cuts, while the council is aware of seven petitions with a total of 6,658 signatures against the proposals.

Lib Dem group leader Stephen Giles-Medhurst blasted the leading Tory party at County Hall for proposing the cuts when he revealed council papers showing the savings have already been made.

The proposals – which would affect as many as 809,000 trips a year – were opened up to public consultation.

More than 4,500 people took part in the survey, with just 30 people supporting the cuts.

Reducing the number of subsidised services was part of a council effort to meet a £700,000 saving in its budget, but the county council has admitted to Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst that it is already a projecting underspend of £322,000 in the bus budget as at September.

He said: “I am disgusted that the Conservatives at County Hall have not owned up till now that not only have they already made a saving for next year, but that they will underspend the bus budget this year.

“This must have been known months ago, yet they have put tens of thousands of residents, who have signed our petitions against bus cuts, through unnecessary worry and upset about losing their lifeline service.”

The councillor has also approached cabinet member for transport Terry Douris, of Grovehill in Hemel Hempstead, about revising the proposals.

Cll Giles-Medhurst added: “I have written to Terry Douris demanding that he drop the idea of any bus cuts now. His arbitrary financial saving figure has been met. Now is the time to look at how we can improve bus services and increase passenger usage not cut it.”

Tomorrow’s meeting at County Hall will consider the consultation responses and offer members options which, if agreed, may require a further period of consultation.

In the previous round of consultation, more than 50% of respondents were 55 years of age or over, and more than 20% considered themselves to have a disability.

More than 85% of respondents were bus users and 58% reported travelling by bus after 6.30pm and/or on Sundays on either commercial or services subsidised by the council.

A total of 46% of respondents reported they use the county council contracted services which could be affected by the proposed withdrawal of services.

More than 2,600 respondents completed the free text box which asked them to provide any comments they would like to make, including alternative suggestions for making savings to the bus service budget.

The panel is expected to recommend that the cabinet conducts a new consultation exercise including consultation on amending the bus strategy.