West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has attacked the Coalition Government's proposals to review the Bus Service Operator Grant and for Rural Bus Subsidy Grant to be no longer ring-fenced putting transport policy into reverse.

MP Rosie said:

"It really is back to the nightmare of 1980's. Once again we see the Conservatives hitting the poorest and elderly, the most vulnerable for whom local bus services are a lifeline."

"If these grants are scrapped it seriously threatens people's jobs as they won't be able to get to work. It will leave many older people trapped and isolated in their homes as the bus services they rely on to see their family, friends, to get to the doctors, to the shops, will be taken away. It will be a cruel decision which won't affect transport ministers in the way it will affect the people of West Lancs who struggle with the bus service as it is, especially in rural areas."

The County Council have already put the treasured 'Dial-A-Ride' service out to tender in a 'hurried' fashion to heighten the suspicion that it wants to give itself the contract.

It is clear they are making a bonfire with so much that is necessary and valued. West Lancs needs more busses not less. Great shame on the Con Dems; who talked about protecting frontline services but their actions only to threaten them. I will be fighting this all the way, we need our buses, we need a railway station in Skelmersdale, we need to protect and improve transport services not make swingeing cuts."