Lib Dems Slam Cuts to District Travel Token Service

12.00.00am GMT Wed 21st Nov 2007

• urge residents to lobby Councillors ahead of special meeting -

Chiltern Liberal Democrats have slammed Conservative plans to end the Chiltern District travel token service as undemocratic. For the first time ever, Liberal Democrat councillors have taken the drastic step of using the Council's formal call-in procedure. This will ensure that the matter is considered again at a joint meeting of two Overview Committees on 27th November before a final decision can be taken.

At their meeting on 30th October, the Chiltern executive Cabinet of Conservative councillors recommended that the travel token service be scrapped and replaced with a 'smartcard' system. Liberal Democrats in attendance at the Cabinet meeting as observers spoke out against the cuts and pointed out that there had been no consultation with affected residents.

The Conservative Cabinet is also recommending cutting the subsidised railcards for senior and disabled people. The token scheme would be replaced with an allowance of £50 for residents over 75 and £80 for people with a disability. This decision will have a potentially devastating impact on the many Chiltern residents who currently claim the maximum token allowance under the current rules.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jane Bramwell said "this change has been rushed through without any consultation with key user groups including the disabled. It discriminates against pensioners below the age of 75. Once again the Council is rushing to cut vital services to save money yet the Council Tax keeps going up. Residents are entitled to ask what exactly is Chiltern providing for their money?

Liberal Democrat Councillor Peter Jones added, "Liberal Democrat councillors have been getting dozens of phone calls and contacts from anxious residents who are outraged by this Conservative decision. Residents just don't know how they will cope without their taxi tokens. There are very few buses in the evening, people don't like using them after dark, and of course residents in the outlying villages don't have a bus service anyway. It's now vitally important that residents lobby Councillors ahead of next week's meeting."

ENDS

Note to Editor - Minute 94 of Cabinet Meeting 30.10.07 applies. The decision is a recommendation to the Council meeting on Tuesday 20th November. The joint Overview Committee meeting is scheduled for 27th November.