Park and Ride Faced with Lengthy Hold-up (North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats)

North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats <bedford@bedfordlibdems.org>

Park and Ride Faced with Lengthy Hold-up

March 12, 2003 12:00 AM

Pointing the way to parking delays: Mayor delays park and ride re-introduction.

Following Full Councils decision to back Lib Dem proposals to stop the Aspects Park and Ride being axed Bedford Borough Council now claims the service may need to be temporarily put on hold for up to 6 months.

The service which transports passengers from the Aspects complex and St. Johns station car park into town won support from a number of local residents who signed up to block plans by the Mayor to axe it. At the last Full Council meeting the Lib Dem group successfully put forward an amendment to the Mayors budget that meant the money would be released from reserves to continue the Park and Ride against the wishes of the Mayor.

Commenting on the delays Lib Dem group leader Michael Headley said:

"We campaigned to see the Park and Ride saved. Now the Mayor is doing his best to undermine that decision. We started the campaign to save the Park and Ride, following a show of support from local people who rely on the service. Allowing it to be axed would mean more cars on town centre roads trying to get in to the busy car parks. If the mayor wants to see less congestion in our town then what is needed is better promotion of this service."

"Now the Mayor is attempting to delay its reintroduction by up to 6 months. He is more interested in holding money in council coffers than spending it on the provision of services. Despite a clear vote for it to be saved the Mayor intends there to be no Park and Ride this summer."

A report on the Park and Ride will be discussed at this Wednesdays Executive Committee meeting.