Lib Dems react to County Council's announcement on TIF - City

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 23rd Jun 2008

Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith

Commenting on the County Council's announcement on the Transport Innovation Fund, Leader of Cambridge City Council Ian Nimmo-Smith said:

"While relieved that the County Conservatives have decided to continue developing proposals with a view to securing TIF funding, I am very disappointed that it has taken a year to reach this point.

"Moreover the Commission that is proposed is not fit for purpose.

"We will however be considering how best to engage with the Commission and seek to influence future decisions in the interests of the people of Cambridge.

"Important decisions are once again at risk of being bungled by Conservative councillors who neither live in Cambridge nor appear to have any knowledge of or interest in the future of our city.

"The Conservative County Council cannot seem to do anything right when it comes to the future transport needs of Cambridge.

"It is unacceptable to propose to hand over the development of Cambridge's transport strategy to a body that is too much weighted towards business, Stagecoach and major landowners.

"And the proposed composition of the commission omits crucial stakeholders.

"For instance it needs to reflect better the needs of cyclists and bus users in a city where 40% of households do not own cars and 28% of journeys to work are made on bike.

"The past year has been wasted because the County Tories have been making up transport policy on the hoof.

"Devising transport commissions on the hoof won't work either.

"There has been no consultation whatsoever as to this commission."