Archive for September, 2011
Campaigners lobby Minister to keep people ‘On the Buses!’
Posted in Uncategorized on September 10, 2011 by mathewhulbertLocal Councillors welcome report on buses
Posted in Uncategorized on September 10, 2011 by mathewhulbertLocal Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed a report, published today, which calls for action to be taken to protect bus services, particularly in rural areas and for local people to be consulted more fully when there are plans to cut bus services.
The report, issued by the Transport Select Committee of MPs, states that many elderly, young and disabled people in rural areas are losing out because of cutbacks to bus services. Here in Hinckley and Bosworth Cllr Bill Crooks and Cllr Michael Mullaney have been campaigning against cutbacks to local buses. Recently they sent in a petition of more than a 1000 names asking for cutbacks to the 153 bus service to be reversed. The service covers, among other places, Market Bosworth, Barlestone, Osbaston, Newbold Verdon and Desford. The petition is to be considered by the County Council’s Scrutiny Commission on the 7th September.
Huge support for bus campaign
Posted in Uncategorized on September 10, 2011 by mathewhulbertOver a 1000 people living in Hinckley and Bosworth have signed a petition demanding better bus services through their villages.
People in Barlestone, Market Bosworth, Newbold Verdon, Desford and Osbaston have signed a petition opposing recent cutbacks to their bus services.
The petition, run by Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesman Cllr Bill Crooks and the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Hinckley and Bosworth, Cllr Michael Mullaney, calls for improvements to the 153 bus service.
This follows a decision by the bus companies earlier this year to axe the number 152 Leicester to Coalville bus service and to reduce the 153 bus service that runs from Leicester through the affected villages.
Cllr Bill Crooks said “The changes to the bus services have really made life difficult for many people in these villages. There are now no Sunday services running through Barlestone, Osbaston, Newbold, Desford and Market Bosworth. The evening services have also been cutback.
“The changes have made it particularly difficult for people who work in other villages but don’t drive. This is especially the case for young people quite a few of whom have Sunday jobs outside the villages they live in, now they don’t have buses to take them to work.”
Cllr Michael Mullaney said “The huge response to this petition shows there is a real demand from local people for improvements to the bus services through their villages.
“We’ve sent the petitions into Leicestershire County Council. We hope they will listen to the more than 1,000 people who have signed it and work to ensure that the bus companies can restore to these villages the bus service local residents used to have and still need.”
(01/08/’11)
Campaigners celebrate cheque success!
Posted in Uncategorized on September 10, 2011 by mathewhulbertLocal campaigners in Hinckley and Bosworth are celebrating news that cheques are to be saved.
The Payment Council, on behalf of the big banks, had announced the abolition of cheques by 2018.
However, massive protests against the moves have forced a rethink and cheques will now be kept.
Cllr Michael Mullaney, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Bosworth welcomes the news “This is a great win for people power.
“3,000 people in Hinckley and Bosworth signed the petition to save cheques. Many more people from across the country also backed the campaign.
“Public pressure has forced the banks to listen and cheques will now be saved.
“This is good news for everyone who uses cheques. In particular, small businesses, local community groups and pensioners and disabled people who would have been particularly badly hit if cheques had been scrapped.”
(13/07/’11)