Luton Council’s ridiculous plan to scrap the Luton-Dunstable rail line and replace it with a guided busway has gone down like a lead balloon with residents.
A survey found 96% were against the idea of spending £90 million on the busway and most thought it was a complete waste of money.
“The survey forms ask for opinions on a range of issues and as expected we get a range of favourable and unfavourable replies,” said David Franks, leader of the local Liberal Democrats who carried out the survey.
“But on the busway, opinion is clear as 96% of respondents have given the thumbs-down to this expensive project.
“Most have said it is a complete waste of money and many have drawn attention to the Cambridge busway which is more than a year overdue.
“The Cambridge scheme is said to be complete but it still cannot be opened for ‘technical reasons’. The contract to build the Luton-Dunstable Busway has been given to the same contractor.”
The Liberal Democrat residents’ survey was delivered to more than 25,500 homes in Luton.
It remains a mystery how such an ill-conceived plan was give Government approval and a large amount of taxpayers cash.
South West Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous has called on Luton Borough Council to release details of the contract between them and a construction company to build the controversial busway.
One commentator said: “Unfortunately the elves and pixies in the Department for Transport still seem to want to continue their guided bus activities.”
Another said: “We are still very short of an explanation as to whether it was spivs in suits who sold guided bus to the Department for Transport on the strength of a powerpoint demonstration.”
Now there are questions being asked about whether former railway land in the town centre is being sold to property developers as part of the guided bus deal.
If the Luton-Dunstable line is to be converted into anything, light rail has a better claim than any bus scheme.
Light rail could be linked to Luton Airport, and beyond, and also to Aylesbury by means of the former line from Cheddington, providing massive "added value".