{"id":2147,"date":"2018-01-17T16:09:46","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T16:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.michaelfallon.org.uk\/?p=2147"},"modified":"2018-01-18T12:29:26","modified_gmt":"2018-01-18T12:29:26","slug":"victory-as-council-scraps-plan-to-axe-buses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.michaelfallon.org.uk\/?p=2147","title":{"rendered":"Victory as Council Scraps Plan to Axe Buses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael has welcomed Kent County Council’s decision to not cut\u00a0vital bus services after he campaigned\u00a0to save them.<\/p>\n

Council\u00a0leader Paul Carter\u00a0committed to reconsidering the plans\u00a0after more than 17,000 people signed a local petition against the plans.<\/p>\n

Mr Carter said he was \u201cpassionate about not isolating people in rural communities\u201d and although savings would now need to be made the emphasis would be on \u201cconversation and not consultation.\u201d\"Vintage<\/a><\/p>\n

The Council said it had set aside a budget of \u00a3500,000 to speak to people, district and parish councils about bus services. Some little used buses could see changes to the way they were run but routes would not be cut at present.\u00a0 Councillors also pledged to continue a \u00a38.7 million subsidy through the Young Persons Travel Pass.<\/p>\n

The council\u2019s funding shift comes after the Government agreed local councils could increase the amount they could raise in council tax without holding a referendum by one per cent. And it follows an announcement which gives Kent the right to retain business rates locally.<\/p>\n

Michael said: “I welcome the county council’s commitment to looking at other options. This shows that when people get involved we can win and change minds.”<\/p>\n

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