Why we need more investment in buses, not less

The 71 and 72 bus timetable changed yesterday.  You can no longer catch a bus from Shefford on a Sunday or Bank Holiday.  Central Bedfordshire Council have taken away the subsidy and so bus operators have withdrawn all services on these days.  

The argument goes there aren't many people using the service on Sunday so taxpayers shouldn't help fund them, especially when resources are tight.  But you could argue this about all bus services that aren't commercially viable.  The problem with restricting subsidy and therefore limiting the scope of a service, you end up subsidising something that fewer and fewer people can use.  If a bus only runs on certain days, only a few times a day, doesn't start early enough or doesn't run late, it's only works for small number of people.

But if you invest to make bus services regular and reliable enough for lots of people to use, the subsidy starts to make a real difference.

The problem with the Conservative approach to bus subsidy is they don't believe in it.  If you can't afford to run a car (or even two cars), you shouldn't live here.  If you want better access to jobs, college or apprenticeships, move.  If you're too young or medically unfit to drive, take a taxi or get a lift.  If you want better leisure and shopping, you picked the wrong place to live.  Things are as they are and let's keep it that way.

Liberal Democrats see things differently.

New housing is being built in Shefford and across Central Bedfordshire.  As communities expand, they need more amenities like leisure and retail.  It isn't possible to build these in every place, so making sure people can get between our local amenities and towns is even more important.

Same goes for job opportunities; people increasingly need to travel to access the opportunities this county offers.  It doesn't make sense for someone to be on benefits or miss out on the perfect job because the lack of a bus service means they can't get to where the jobs are.  Is it right that the opportunities for someone who can't drive for whatever reason (age, medical, money etc.) should be so vastly different to those who can.

As our communities expand, road and parking infrastructure (particularly at our local train stations) gets put under increasing pressure.  One solution is to tarmac over more land.  The other is to invest in a regular, reliable network of bus travel.  It's a choice.

And we must make sure we support the vulnerable in our community, those who aren't big enough in number to be heard, but are the most in need: disabled, elderly and low earners.

All of this isn't just about bus services, it's also about other things like broadband and mobile signal.  Living in a rural area doesn't have to mean accepting poor infrastructure.  And that is why the Liberal Democrat Manifesto pledges to:

• Introduce a new Young Person’s Bus Discount Card, for young people aged 16–21, giving a two-thirds discount on bus travel – allowing young people to access education, apprenticeships, and work.
• Halt the decline in bus services and carry out a review of bus funding and bus policies. We will give principal local authorities the power to run, commission, and regulate the bus network in their area.
• Ensure that every property in the UK is provided, by 2022, with a superfast broadband connection with a download speed of 30Mbps, an upload speed of 6Mbps, and an unlimited usage cap.
• Invest £2 billion in innovative solutions to ensure the provision of high speed broadband across the rural UK, working with local authorities and providing grants to help areas replicate the success of existing community-led projects.
• Work with Ofcom to ensure that mobile phone companies provide fast and reliable coverage in rural areas.
• Work with local authorities to deliver a significant increase in social and affordable housing in rural areas.

Published and promoted on behalf of Lisa French, Daniel Norton and the Liberal Democrats by Annabel Woolmer of 2 Washington Avenue, Shefford, SG17 5XZ and Susan Goodchild of 21 Roslyn Way, Houghton Regis, LU5 6JX. 

Want someone who'll work for you? Vote Lib Dem on 4th May & 8th June

Wow, what a roller-coaster of a few weeks.  We launched our local campaign in Shefford, Chicksands, Campton & Meppershall in March to fight for:

•  amenities and infrastructure, not just new housing, for the residents and business in the area
•  improved regular bus services that better serve the whole ward  
•  and measures to ease the problems caused by the lack of proper access to Shefford Lower and Robert Bloomfield.

In the last 4 weeks, our candidate, Annabel Woolmer has:

• questioned the school places planning team over Lower and Middle School places
• campaigned to extend the hours and regularity of the 200 bus route and improve the 71/72 route
• launched a petition for a community swimming pool in the area and been working with the campaign team in Henlow
• asked the Council to look at residents parking and traffic calming on Ampthill Road
• and argued for more quality retail space in Shefford.

We want to give people the option of having a Councillor who'll be an effective voice of opposition in the Council.  We think the poor decisions and failures in recent years are because Central Bedfordshire Council has become a Tory echo-chamber that isn't listening or taking local views into account.

Good government needs good opposition.  

Little did we know a few weeks ago that we would soon be fighting for the same on a national level.  A government that knows what it wants can be a good thing.  A government that is seeking votes just so it can afford to ignore the views of large sections of the population is not good government and is definitely not good for the country.  If you want effective opposition in the Council and Parliament who will work hard to represent you:

Vote Annabel Woolmer on 4th May 

Vote Lisa French on 8th June

Like on Facebook: @SheffordLibDems & @CentralBedfordshireLiberalDemocrats.  If you'd like to help, email annabelwoolmer@mac.com to find out how.  Even small things can make a big difference.) 

Published (hosted) and promoted by Daniel Norton and Annabel Woolmer on behalf of Annabel Woolmer, Lisa French and the Liberal Democrats all at 2 Washington Avenue, Shefford, SG17 5XZ

More buses please!

Yesterday, the Council voted to approve plans to build 77 new parking spaces at the Priory House Council offices in Chicksands.  Parking is already a problem and Central Bedfordshire are closing other offices and more people are coming to work there.  So we understand the demand for these spaces.  But as part of this, the Council have said that their commitment to sustainable travel is adequate.   I (Lib Dem Cllr candidate) have been looking into this and believe their commitment is far from adequate.

The Council produced an excellent Transport Plan for travel to Priory House in 2014 with 26 recommendations.  In the last 3 years they have implemented just 7 and most of these relate to things like updating the website, rather than investing in giving people viable alternative transport options.  

The plan particularly identified how difficult it would be for people to use the existing bus services and recommended making the 200 bus route more regular and altering the 71 & 72 to stop nearer to Priory House.  These recommendations were ruled out for lack of resources.  Resources were found however to pilot the use of electric cars for staff who’d left their car at home to use for work trips during the day.  But as they hadn’t invested in viable alternatives to leaving the car at home in the first place, the pool of people needing these was small and the initiative was abandoned for lack of take-up.  

The Council has focused on promoting car sharing.  But this needs people to be travelling the same route and at the same time.  They also have a policy of promoting flexible working hours and location, which is positive, but it means the scope for car sharing is always going to be limited.  

Bus travel allows people to get to work at different times and under their own steam.  I call on the Council to make providing a viable bus alternative to commute to Priory House.  As a minimum:

• further subsidising the 200 to make it run frequently at the beginning and end of the working day

 And ideally,

• putting in a closer stop for the 71 & 72 
• providing discounted bus passes to staff.  

The Council say they did subsidise a bus service for a while, but that nobody used it.  I find this response frustrating.  Firstly, for a bus service to work, it has be convenient - ie. regular and for long enough hours; otherwise it only meets a handful of people's needs and is not worth it.  Secondly, other government and large organisations who have chosen to build offices away from existing transport have schemes whereby they put in viable bus services and then only issue parking permits to staff who cannot cannot use these services.  It might sound draconian, but as long as there is a reliable, regular, inexpensive bus service, it works.  The Council acknowledges that even these 77 extra spaces are not going to be enough.  So unless they plan to tarmac over adjacent fields or build some sort of multi-story, they will need a get serious about sustainable travel.  Central Bedfordshire chose to site its main offices in a location without existing transport options - it’s up to Central Bedfordshire to take the lead and make sure those services are put in place and that their staff, were practical, are made to use them. 

And what about people in the area who don’t drive?  Should they be denied the many employment opportunities at Priory House?  Should residents that don’t have access to a car have to pay for taxis to visit their own council offices?  A regular, viable, subsidised public bus service would relieve the Council’s parking problem, be a genuine commitment to sustainable travel, and benefit residents across this part of Central Bedfordshire.  If scarce resource is to be spent, let’s make sure it benefits all of us, not just the employees of the Council.  

Finally, I want to take issue with a phrase I’ve seen many times in justification for this application - that parking is needed because of Priory House’s remote, rural location.  Priory House is only remote because it isn’t served well by public transport.  It is right next to a growing town and on the main arterial road through Central Bedfordshire.  It is hard to understand why there isn’t a regular bus service along the A507 anyway and is a Council decision and responsibility to sort it out.

First-time voter? Here's how to vote in the Shefford election on 4th May.

On Thursday 4^th May, residents of Shefford will have a vote in the Central Bedfordshire Council elections. This might be the first time that you’ve had an opportunity to vote, so here’s a guide to the process.

Most importantly, you need to register to vote. If you haven’t done so already, you can easily register online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote  You need to do this by THURSDAY 13TH APRIL. Even if you’re at University, you can also vote at home for local elections, so don’t miss out. You can also use this link to register for a proxy vote (where you nominate someone to vote on your behalf), or a postal vote. 

The deadline for requesting a postal vote is Tuesday 18^th April. For a proxy vote it's 21st April.

The Liberal Democrats are the only party fighting to keep Britain open, tolerant and united. It’s a message that more people than ever are responding to. Since the EU Referendum last June, the Liberal Democrats have won 33 council seats across the country. By contrast, the Tories have lost 23 seats and Labour have lost 13.

In this area, Tory-led Central Bedfordshire Council have failed to produce a Local Plan for managed development – despite having five years to put one in place!  Housebuilders have pretty much built what they want where they want.  This means there’s little of the much-needed affordable housing or houses aimed at first-time buyers.  With so much new development, it’s vital that schools and local services keep pace with the expansion, so that the area continues to thrive. Your Liberal Democrat candidates are fighting to make this happen.

Make your voice heard by voting Liberal Democrat on Thursday 4^th May.

Want a community swimming pool for Shefford? SIGN OUR PETITION

The campaign for a swimming pool for Shefford started 30 years ago. 1,500 people joined a Facebook page in 2014 to ask for one and asked the Conservative Clllr to look at it; he refused.

Waiting lists for swimming lessons in pools in the area are now up to 2 years long! We are not asking for a large, expensive leisure centre. We are asking for an energy efficient, mid-size pool either in Shefford or the near vicinity (eg. ex RAF Henlow). A pool would benefit the whole of our community - families, schools, elderly, disabled - and provide Shefford with a much need amenity to match it's growing size.

We need to show the Council how much local people want this. Please sign and share our petition at this link: https://goo.gl/DYmGN8

Published (hosted) and promoted by Daniel Norton on behalf of Annabel Woolmer (Liberal Democrats) all at 2 Washington Avenue, Shefford, SG17 5XZ

School bus: EPIC FAIL

Getting into Robert Bloomfield by road is difficult and dangerous. Kingfisher Road was meant to be an access road but, as the photo shows, the developer built a residential road instead. One resident talked to us about what it's like:

"About 8 large buses use the road within 15 minutes every morning and afternoon.  My main concern is the safety of other road users and pedestrians; particularly young children going to the preschool and lower school, as the buses skirt the pavements due to the tight bends in the road.  I have also witnessed buses mounting kerbs because the narrow road isn't designed for such large vehicles and also has traffic from staff entering to park at RBA, parents who need to park to collect/drop off children, plus residents who need to enter/exit the estate.  When we heard that a new development was planned at Campton Fields, we saw the initial idea included new access to the school, but now it seems this alternative access isn't happening."

 Published (hosted) and promoted by Daniel Norton on behalf of Annabel Woolmer (Liberal Democrats) all at 2 Washington Avenue, Shefford, SG17 5XZ

Tory Failure Leads to Planning Nightmare

Anyone wondering how the 140 new houses being built on Campton Road got planning, when our schools are full, other services stretched and the Council opposed it?  Answer: the Tory-led Council did not get a ‘Local Plan’ in place despite having 5 years to do it and it being a requirement of the 2012 Planning Framework. The lack of 'Local Plan' means developers have “presumed sustainable development” – a posh way of saying developers can build how many houses they like and the planners can’t say no.

Building new houses as part of a plan that looks years ahead, consults with local people and neighbouring areas, and includes school places, roads, shops, leisure facilities, doctors and transport makes sense.  But the Council decided not to follow the Local Plan process and did their own thing. Sadly for us their plans did not stand up legally, leaving us forced to accept developments we aren't ready for like Campton Fields.  How many other developments will get through before they get the Local Plan in place? If anymore get the nod, where are the school places?  And how good is the plan going to be now that they’ve got to write it in a rush?

The UK needs new houses.  But good development means planning what we need to go with them. We need a Council that does this not just because they have to, but because they believe it.

Published (hosted) and promoted by Daniel Norton on behalf of Annabel Woolmer (Liberal Democrats) all at 2 Washington Avenue, Shefford, SG17 5XZ