Sir Oliver Heald, MP for North East Hertfordshire, is encouraging constituents to respond to Herts County Council’s second consultation on bus services which has just opened and runs until midnight on 10 April. This follows a consultation which was held earlier on in the year and closed in October, please see Sir Oliver’s earlier press release about this for details.
This current consultation looks at further possible changes to bus services and how they are to be funded.
Alternative options which are being looked at are:
-To withdraw funding from contracted services which operate after 7.30pm.
-To withdraw funding from these services on Sundays, except for routes which go directly to hospitals which would run until 7.30pm.
-To modify the existing Value for Money Criteria to help determine which routes and services will receive funding, taking into account a range of factors including cost per passenger journey and need.
-Amend the overall Bus Strategy to reflect any changes in the way bus services are funded.
Those that want to find out more about it and how to respond can do so by clicking here.
Commenting, Sir Oliver said, “I realise that many people in my constituency use buses every day and it is important there is adequate transport for those that cannot drive or simply prefer to travel by bus. I was contacted by Buntingford Town Council and Ashwell Parish Council at the end of last year who voiced their concerns, which I support, about the likely reduction in bus services in their areas. It is important that people respond to this consultation and the Council takes heed of the responses received.”
Follow Sir Oliver on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OliverHealdMP
Read his blog at www.oliverheald.wordpress.com