Annette Brooke MP challenges Government on local bus services

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 6th Jul 2006

On Monday 10th July, on the floor of the House of Commons, Annette Brooke MP is going to describe the dire situation regarding travel by bus in Poole and Dorset. She will highlight in particular the savage cuts in services for Corfe Mullen residents and cuts in the Upton, Merley, and Broadstone areas. She will say: 

"Before June 4th and the introduction of the new bus timetable by Wilts and Dorset bus company, we had an expensive but poor service. Now in some areas we have either no service at all or one which is inaccessible to those who are dependent on buses. Senior citizens are saying to me all the time: 'What is the point of a free bus pass if there are no buses for us to use!'."

Annette will point out that the situation is affecting the most vulnerable residents in our communities: the elderly, those who cannot drive because of health reasons or because they cannot afford a car, young people and people with disabilities.

Annette will be addressing her comments to Gillian Merron, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport. Amongst other things, Annette will be asking whether the Government is giving our councils enough funding to tackle the problems, and whether local councils are doing everything they can to support services for the most vulnerable, and to promote public transport.

Annette is hoping to glean some answers from Central Government and to secure their support for bus services in Poole and Dorset.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Annette Brooke will be leading an adjournment debate in the House of Commons entitled 'Funding of bus services in Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency' on Monday 10th July 2006.