From Councillor Steve Carr:
Nottinghamshire County Council have been urged to be honest and transparent over potential cuts to bus services. In an email to Cllr. Steve Carr (Bramcote & Beeston North, LibDem) Nottinghamshire’s Highway’s boss Gary Wood stated “…its highly likely that there will be further changes to commercial services.” This was due to government support being withdrawn in October. Mr Wood was responding on behalf of Conservative Councillor Neil Clarke – the Cabinet Member responsible for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council.
The explosive email will put bus users on red alert and comes 18 months after the City Council axed vital bus services between Bramcote and Beeston. The replacement service is unpopular and inadequate.
Now Councillor Steve Carr, who is campaigning to improve bus services in Beeston and Bramcote, is asking County Hall to come clean on what cuts residents may face. He said, “This is the first time they have gone on record stating they are in active discussions to potentially axe more services. When talking about bus services all you ever hear is ‘use it or lose it.’ That’s why they need to come clean on what services they are looking to axe.”
Earlier this year, County Hall put in a £98million bid in the Government’s ‘Bus Back Better’ scheme. They were only successful with £31.1million of their bid. This means that bus subsidies are under threat.