From our Local County Councillor
1. Local representations were successful in the decision of the County Council
to retain the evening and Sunday buses (10 and 10A) in this area of the county.
They will however be looking again at the Sunday buses in the summer. The
reason that the direct service (12) from Cambridge to Newmarket, which has now
been cut, was not consulted upon is because this was a Stagecoach commercial
service and not a subsidised one. The last two buses of the day, although
following the 10/10A route in this area will now be numbered the 12.
2. Cambridgeshire - the fastest growing county in the country - will receive an increase of 1.9% (£1.71 per person) in Government Grant next year compared to a county council average of 4.2%. As a result Cambridgeshire County Council will need to find savings of around £19 million. This compares with Essex receiving £3.47, Suffolk which will get £8.87 and Norfolk who benefit by £12.88 per person.
Cambridgeshire's below inflation increase will have to meet the cost of any increases in road maintenance, social care, respite care for children and libraries at a time of rising unemployment, when spending in the public sector is being expected to support the economy.
3. Adult Social Support Services provided by Cambridgeshire County Council and its partners have been given a two star rating by Government inspectors - up from the previous year's one star rating.
4. The new Milton Road park and ride is located south of Butt Lane just off the A10. The new site provides customers with improved facilities including over 500 car parking spaces with room to expand to 1,000 at a later date. The Cowley road site is now closed. The buses will depart every 10 minutes on weekdays. For all route and timetable information for Milton Park & Ride log onto www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/parkride or call 01223 845561.
5. Home to School Transport charges are due to go up on September 1st. Parents and students will be advised of the eligibility criteria when making choices about post 16 transport. This is because Stagecoach have put up their charges by 10% so the current rate won't cover the Authority's costs for 2009/10.