Train and bus services need urgent improvements, say Lib Dems (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

Train and bus services need urgent improvements, say Lib Dems

October 14, 2008 12:59 PM

Train TRAVEL and transport in South Oxfordshire would improve if Liberal Democrat transport policies were put into operation, claim Party members in Didcot and Wantage. Lib Dem proposals include improving bus services by putting them under the control of local councils where bus companies have failed to provide improvements themselves; improving local rail services; and introducing strong environmental criteria for new roads.

"These are radical policies which would help to address some of the transport problems in South Oxfordshire," said Wantage constituency spokesman Alan Armitage. "Transport is now high on most people's lists of concerns. Despite lots of talk by Labour, public transport is expensive and plagued by problems resulting from under-investment by both Labour and Conservative governments. We would pay for improvements with a new levy on heavy freight lorries."

Lib Dems have highlighted the excessive increases in train fares suffered by Oxfordshire residents, compared to many other parts of the country. The need to rebuild the Wantage/Grove railway station is also becoming more pressing with the increase in costs of running a car, and the planned new house-building in Grove.