PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR BETTER BUS SERVICES

HUNDREDS of Derby residents have signed a petition calling for public transport services in the city to be improved.

The petition has been launched by Labour city councillors following the controversy over plans by the Liberal Democrat-led council to axe school bus services in Derby.

Under the Lib Dem plans, children from across Derby will be forced to either use commercial services or find alternative ways of getting to school.

City centre shoppers were given the chance to sign the petition on Friday and Saturday before visitors to the Stockbrook Community Fun Day signed up on Sunday.

It became clear straight away that people feel strongly on this issue. That's why we'll be taking this petition in the neighbourhoods so everyone will have a chance to tell the Lib Dems what they think about their ideas.

Plans to improve public transport in the city were voted down by Lib Dem and Conservative councillors in March, when they decided to push through the Lib Dem budget, include proposals to remove the school buses, instead of an alternative Labour budget.

Rather than cutting school transport services, we should be looking at extending them. The total cost of doing this would be around £1.5m.

The Lib Dems are happy to spend a similar figure rebuilding the scarcely used Gayton Swimming Pool so there really is no excuse for what they're planning.

What I find so incredibly frustrating is that we're not just demanding something without backing it up. Our properly balanced alternative budget showed how our plans would have been affordable, but the Lib Dems refuse to sit down and discuss it with us.

There will be opportunities to sign the petition at various locations across the city in the coming weeks.