Campaigners lobby Minister to keep people ‘On the Buses!’

Michael Mullaney with 'Olive'

 

A Hinckley and Bosworth borough councillor was amongst a group of bus campaigners who travelled to London by vintage bus to lobby the government about cuts to local bus services.

 

Cllr Michael Mullaney (Lib Dem. Hinckley Trinity) was amongst the campaigners on the bus organised by actress Anna Karen, better known as “Olive” from “On the Buses”. Terry Kirby chairman of Leicestershire Campaign for better Transport and Barwell parish councillor (Lib Dem St Mary’s ward) was also on board.

 

They met Transport Minister, Norman Baker, to express their concerns.

 

Michael Mullaney said “It was great that Anna Karen, a British comedy icon as “Olive” was prepared to organise this event and promote this important cause.

 

“It gave me the opportunity to raise the cutbacks to the 153 bus service that runs through many of the villages in Hinckley and Bosworth.

 

“The County Council is considering cutting back half a million pounds from the buses budget for each of the three years from 2012.This would reduce the budget by about a third and could lead to many more bus services in the county being lost.

“I hope the government listens to the concerns we raised in London. The government believes the environment is a priority, to cut back on buses will force many bus users who drive back into their cars. The government also want to promote social inclusion. To allow bus services to be cut, particularly in rural areas, could leave many people who don’t drive, particularly elderly and disabled people unable to lead full lives.”

 

The programme will be broadcast on BBC One’s “Inside Out” programme in October.

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Local Councillors welcome report on buses

Local 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.

Cllr Bill Crooks Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesman said “I’m glad the MPs have recognised the problem of buses being cutback in rural areas. I hope that Leicestershire County Council and the bus services can reach some agreement to maintain buses through rural parts of Hinckley and Bosworth.”

Cllr Michael Mullaney, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Hinckley and Bosworth added “The cutbacks to the 153 service means that many villages no longer have a Sunday bus service.This is bad news for people who work on Sundays and don’t drive, particularly many young people.

“Buses affected by recent cutbacks include the Cresswell 7 service, which is the only bus service for many villages in the west of Hinckley and Bosworth like Witherley, Fenny Drayton and Ratcliffe Culey. “I hope the County Council will have a rethink and will avoid future cuts to local bus services.”

The Transport Select Committee report can be read online at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmtran/750/75002.htm

 

(11/08/’11)

Huge support for bus campaign

Local Councillors with petitions

Over 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!

Local Lib Dems celebrate cheque campaign victory!

Local 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)