Lib Dems Call For Support To Halt Bus Station Delays

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 27th Nov 2002

Following last week's Executive meeting, which decided to delay the development of the bus station, Lib Dems on Bedford Borough Council are urging local people to voice their concerns through a petition.

The petition organised by Lib Dem Deputy leader Christine McHugh calls on the Mayor to rethink his plans to move the bus station to a new site near the Railway Station on Ashburnham Road. The Mayor announced that this would mean a delay of 3 years in the long-awaited redevelopment of the bus station.

Cllr McHugh commented:

"Mr Branston stated in his manifesto that improvements to the bus station would be a top priority if elected. The reality is that he has made it his first job to delay the development by 3 years. The current site is a disgrace. What people urgently want is a vastly improved town centre bus station as soon as possible, with a supermarket as planned, not a remote one in several years time."

"I was also very surprised to see the Mayor now intends to build a new town hall where the town centre bus station was going to be. This is a ridiculous waste of taxpayers money."

She added:

"I have started a petition to try to persuade the Mayor to change his mind. I have been overwhelmed with the response I have received so far. If anyone wants to sign the petition please contact me or any of the Lib Dems at the town hall to register their support. What we need is a vastly improved town centre bus station and we need it now!"

To add your support to the petition for a vastly improved bus station as soon as possible on the existing site, please email your name and address to buspetition@bedfordlibdems.org, or write to Christine McHugh, Bus Petition, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 9QJ.