Save the evening and Sunday bus services running between Lancaster and Kirkby Lonsdale

The Issue

Lancashire County Council is planning to stop all evening and Sunday services between Lancaster and Kirkby Lonsdale from May as well as on many other routes around Lancaster and Morecambe. This will lead to greater car use and an inability to travel at those times for anyone who does not have a car, so particularly the young, the old and the poor, leading to isolation. Many people will not be able to get to and from their place of work. It will undermine efforts to cut down on car use and to reduce carbon emissions, add to traffic in Lancaster and put pressure on parking.

Ursula GalliePetition Starter

Media enquiries

Victory

This petition made change with 1,284 supporters!

The Issue

Ursula GalliePetition Starter

Media enquiries

Victory

This petition made change with 1,284 supporters!

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The Decision Makers

Eric Ollerenshaw MP,

Member of Parliament

Responded

“Thank you for signing the petition to save our local bus services. As you will probably know from the local media, I am against the County Council’s plans to cut back on the bus services they support as it will have an extremely negative and damaging impact on our rural areas and some of the estates in and around Lancaster. I believe that this issue is so important to our local communities that I have spoken in Parliament to the Secretary of State for Transport on this issue on December 19th. You can read more about my position on the matter on my website at http://www.lancasterandfleetwoodconservatives.com/2013/12/eric-ollerenshaw-fights-million-cuts-to-lancashire-bus-services/. In addition I am lobbying the Council to change their minds and will continue to do all I can to make sure these cuts do not go ahead. With the County Council effectively being a ‘hung Council’ this measure can be defeated. I note that the petition is targeted at the Council Chief Executive and myself and, whilst I welcome the petition and knowing just how many people oppose the Council’s plans, I am encouraging anyone who doesn’t want these proposals to go ahead to lobby their local County Councillors as it will be they who make the final decision on this matter. To be clear: these cuts are proposed by the County Council and it is the County Councillors who have the final say as to whether to go ahead with them or not. As an MP I can lobby them and try to make them change their minds but I do not have a vote in the Council Chamber. I have met with the Conservative Group on the County Council and I know that they have already stated that they will be voting against these proposals. I do not know how other County Council Groups or Independent County Councillors plan to vote at this stage but if you wish to contact them their details can be found online at www.lancashire.gov.uk You can also put in your own formal objection to this proposal by contacting Lancashire County Council by email lcc.bus.services@lancashire.gov.uk or write to: Bus & Supported Transport Manager Lancashire County Council Room D3, PO Box 100 County Hall, Preston PR1 0LD I would advise also specifically contacting the Leader of the County Council, County Councillor Jennifer Mein and the Cabinet member for Transport, County Councillor John Fillis, to ensure your voice on this issue is heard. The contact details for both of these Councillors can be found online at www.council.lancashire.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=122 In the mean time, I will continue to do all I can to try to make sure the County Council does not press ahead with these cuts to our local bus services. For those of you who have signed the petition but do not live in Lancaster and Fleetwood you may also wish to contact your own MP. You can find their contact details here: http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps. Whilst it remains the case MPs will not have a vote on the Council’s proposals they can still bring pressure to bear. Once again thank you for taking the time to contact me. Yours faithfully Eric Ollerenshaw Member of Parliament for Lancaster and Fleetwood. ”

Eric Ollerenshaw MP

Member of Parliament

Responded