28 September 2013
The Green Party has slammed a move by Labour run Liverpool City Council to scrap bus lanes in the city. It follows a declaration from Liverpool’s Labour Mayor that the lanes would be scrapped for a “trial” period. The decision has been condemned by local bus companies, taxi firms and local transport campaigners.
Peter Cranie, a Liverpool resident, and North West Euro candidate said:
“Two of Liverpool’s Labour MPs have prominent environmental roles. Louise Ellman chairs the House of Commons Transport Committee and Luciana Berger is the Shadow Minister for Climate Change. Yet neither MP has raised an eyebrow at a decision that has been taken with no consultation and smacks of political populism from an increasingly out of control local Mayor.”
“It exposes an unfortunate reality that the pre-election green talk from Labour is just hot air. Where they have executive power, their party is making decisions that will increase traffic, increase CO2 pollution and damage air quality in some of the most deprived areas of the city.”
“This decision is a disgrace. The Labour councillors who have nodded this through should be ashamed of themselves and the Labour MPs in the city who have stood idly by have seen their own environmental credentials fatally undermined.”
The local Labour Party select committee chair has used his power to block this decision from a “call-in” to scrutinise the proposal, but the local Green Party councillors believe that the decision will be seen as irrational if subjected to judicial review, and will serve notice of their call-in notice today.
Cllr John Coyne, leader of the Green group on the council said:
“In our city 46% of households do not have access to a car or van [1]. The attempt to stitch this decision up and prevent the usual processes for scrutiny, shows that local Labour Party MPs and councillors are running scared of Mayor Joe Anderson. It is left to the Green Party to protect local air quality and to stand up for those who rely on public transport.”
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