Lib Dem plan to save Devon's bus services

Devon's bus services could be back on the road and saved from planned Conservative cuts under new budget plans delivered to County Hall today (16th) by the County's Liberal Democrats.

In changes being put forward to Devon County Council when it meets on Thursday (19th) to decide the budget for the new financial year, the Lib Dems want to put back £1.7million to keep the county's buses on the road.

Fixing Devon's roads, tackling road drainage problems and weed spraying will also get a £1.5million boost says Cllr Alan Connett, leader of the county's Liberal Democrat opposition.

Ruling Conservatives at Devon County Council plan to cut funding for bus services across the county, affecting town and village communities as well as some in Exeter.

Cllr Connett says the bus services could be kept on the road, helping residents get to work, do their shopping and get to appointments.

The Lib Dems propose instead to cut the county council's spending on public relations and marketing by £400,000, cut £200,000 from advertising spending, and save £2.6 million from the extra £5.5million the council wants to put into its 'transformation and resilience' funds.

"The Lib Dem priority is to put Devon's communities first," says Cllr Connett

"We have shown that the bus services the Conservatives want to cut can in fact be kept and we can also help deal with the problem communities have with weeds and blocked drains, which worry residents. This basic maintenance helps to save money. It's the old adage about a stitch in time.

"The Conservatives are choosing to cut bus services and at the same time are also planning to put an extra £5.5 million into the council's savings.

"We say the impact on communities of the bus cuts is too great and the better balance is to keep the buses running. We can still put £2.9 million into the 'transformation and resilience' funds to help with other pressures.

The Lib Dems say they hope there will be agreement across the council chamber to save Devon's buses and the benefit good services mean for local residents as well as helping to support the Devon economy.

They are also proposing joint working with councils across Devon to improve efficiency and make savings on the cost of doing economic development work which is split across different authorities and a review of Devon County Hall to make better use of the facility and bring in extra income. Currently, the cost to the county council alone of economic development work is put at £1.2million