When the Conservatives announced their intentions last November to pursue a new Home to School Transport policy based on ‘nearest school only’, Simon Galton, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, left comments exposing the flaws with such an approach. Finding the Tory approach completely unacceptable, the Liberal Democrats have used the time to work up […]

As promised, Liberal Democrat County Councillors have been working hard monitoring the impact of a Bus Review launched earlier in the year. The bus review that the County Council conducted was designed to achieve around £750,000 of savings from public transport. It was a cross party review but the Lib Dems on the panel insisted […]

Leicestershire County Council is currently consulting on proposals to reduce or cut public transport in Leicestershire for students, the disabled and the elderly, which could go ahead if too few people respond to the Consultation. Local Councillor Simon Galton said: “The old phrase ‘use it or lose it’ springs to mind here. If people don’t […]

Some time ago I requested a report to the Harborough Highways Forum on  the current road safety situation on the A47 including accident trends since the introduction of fixed and mobile speed camera plus changes to signing and lining about seven years ago. More recently local residents in Skeffington have been campaigning for a 40mph […]

Strong concern has been expressed about a change of policy affecting 10 year olds travelling on double deck school buses in the County.  At last week’s Cabinet, Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr  Simon Galton, whose division will be affected by the changes, questioned why the cabinet felt it acceptable to treat 10 year old pupils, who happen […]

Liberal Democrat Councillor Helen Loydall has presented a statement to the Councils Conservative Cabinet urging them to reinstate the subsidy for the No.45 Bus.  She said: “this issue is one of those clear occasions where ordinary people will suffer because the council’s administration refuses to look at facts. They hide behind policies and strategies and […]

A press release from my colleagues in Oadby & Wigston:   Liberal Democrats have reacted angrily about the decision to impose a member of the Conservative group from North West Leicestershire on the Oadby & Wigston Highway Forum.  Michael Charlesworth one of the Oadby County Councillors said: “I find this all very frustrating, the people […]

Today’s article in the Leicester Mercury: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/politics/Cost-road-gritting-rises-500-000/article-692216-detail/article.html As the article shows the recent harsh weather has ended up costing tax payers more, for grit that Council staff feel is inferior and forcing staff to work longer. Essentially what is the logic in seeking to take more money out if the winters are going to get worse?  

Having checked our figures again it appears we double counted the actual saving for winter maintenance, the actual saving for 2009/10 is £215,000 which is bad enough but this already includes the £136,110 we highlighted separately. I am sorry for the mistake, but the point is the same – money is still being taken out of winter maintenance.   […]

I have just learnt that the train fairs are going to go up by a massive increase (see below) your local Liberal Democrats will campaign hard on this issue as we believe that a better rail way system is needed but shouldn’t be limited to the rich. We believe that the government should ensure that […]