MORE GLEN PARVA & BLABY BUS SERVICES UNDER THREAT

The Conservatives have threatened to cut two more important local bus services as part of their budget plans.

Once again the number 73 bus service is under discussions for cutting even though almost 34,000 passengers used it last year; most of them pensioners. It is used by residents living along the Little Glen Road and in the estates off Leicester Road, Glen Parva. Some Blaby residents also use this service. It is jointly funded by the County Council and Leicester City Council and we await to see what the City Council says in its budget.

The South Wigston High School Special is also under threat in the budget. This bus service carries pupils to the High School from the Leicester Road end of Glen Parva.

These are important local bus services which are used especially by the young and the elderly who do not have access to cars. Your local Lib Dem councillors are trying to find out more about the situation and campaigning to stop these cuts.  

Cllr Geoff Welsh (Lib Dem) said, “One department of the County Council is trying to put in a bus lane in Leicester Road, Glen Parva while another department is considering cutting two bus services which would use it. Sounds like a dysfunctional Conservative Executive if you ask me!”

APPEAL TO KEEP FUNDING FOR No 45 BUS ROUTE

Following the presentation of a petition from over 200 bus users, the County Council’s Scrutiny Commission have asked County Highways and the Cabinet member to reconsider their decision to scrap the funding for the No 45 bus route.

At the meeting I was able to propose that the matter should be reconsidered, following pleas that the route was important to workers, students and pensioners. My proposal was agreed by the committee.

CONSERVATIVES CUT BUS SERVICE

Conservative controlled Leicestershire County Council have stopped their funding support for the No 45 bus service! From 26 October the service will be a reduced service, run on a commercial basis by Centrebus.

This is an important service for many Blaby residents, young and old, needing to travel round the edge of Leicester. I fear this is evidence that it’s the elderly and vulnerable who will feel the brunt of Conservative cuts.

The service runs from Oadby through Wigston, South Wigston, Countesthorpe, Blaby. Littlethorpe, Enderby to Fosse Park.

Many young people use this service to get to the many schools and colleges in the south of Leicester. The elderly use it to stay in contact with friends and relatives and to shop at Fosse Park. Workers use it to travel to their places of work, eg Alliance & Leicester HQ, Grove Park and Fosse Park.

Details:- Oadby to Fosse Park will retain the 0645, 1015, and 1215 journeys, but the 1415 will only run as far as Blaby and the 0615, 0815 and 1615 journeys will be lost. Fosse Park to Oadby will retain the 0915, 1115, and 1315 journeys, but the 0715,1515 and 1720 will be lost.

NEW BLABY RAILWAY STATION

I have just been told that Blaby District and Leicestershire County Councils have submitted a joint bid “for New Growth Point monies to carry out a feasibility study which will consider the potential for a new railway station at Blaby”.

A new Blaby station is a long term project. There are many hurdles to overcome. The bid for funding for a feasibility study may not be successful. Even it is the subsequent study may not be positive. But this seems to be a step in the right direction. We must wait and see.

Printed, published & promoted by A Bailey of 11 Windsor Ave, Glen Parva, LE2 9TQ

Network Rail bridge renewals. Network Rail are to renew a number of bridges so that larger container freight trains will be able to pass beneath them. One of them is the railway bridge on Saffron Rd, South Wigston. Saffron Road is likely to be closed for about 6 weeks. I have asked Highways to investigate ways of alleviating the inevitable traffic congestion around Glen Parva / Blaby, especially on the A426, Leicester Rd. Works likely to start in 2010.

More support for a new Blaby Railway Station.

An old steam engine has appeared in the “circus” field on the A426 between Blaby and Glen Parva.  Apparently the steam  engine was built in 1929 and worked at “Distillers” and “Proctor and Gamble”. According to the local newspaper, the owner of the 27-tonne  steam engine has ‘placed’ it there to call for the return of a Blaby Railway Station.

I am delighted at this magnificent visual reminder of the need for a new Blaby station.

As the County Councillor for Blaby & Glen Parva last year I called for meetings between the County and District Councils to try to progress this venture. At present we are waiting for a response for the passenger franchise holders. But whatever their answer I will battle on until we have a new station. But remember, this is a long term project .

                                                                                                           BLABY STATION - BRING IT ON !

Councillors sitting on yesterday’s County Council Development Control Board meeting, REFUSED permission for a new Waste Transfer Station in South Wigston.  This followed a vigorous campaign by residents and councillors in Wigston and Glen Parva.

Although I do not sit on the Board I was able to speak to the cpmmittee because I am a local member whose ward would have been affected by the application. I emphasised the problems that even more heavy goods lorries would have brought to the Little Glen Road, County Arms junction and A426 (Leicester Road). I also expressed my concern that more traffic would worsen the road safety problems experienced by children walking to their schools along the B582.

Many thanks to everyone who organised and signed petitions and wrote letters and emails.

We await to see whether the waste transfer applicants appeal this decision.