Chelmsford Lib Dem transport issues

If we are going to really tackle pollution and congestion in Chelmsford, we need to improve ALL types of transport in the area. We need:

• four park and rides around Chelmsford, not just one

• a new station at Springfield, served by good bus routes

• more reliable bus routes across town

• a more reliable train service with more capacity

• a complete network of cycle routes without key gaps

When the Lib Dems ran the council, they put in place many of the current cycle routes and were working for four park and rides. Little is now being done by the Conservatives who run the council.

The Conservatives could try to reduce the number of vehicles coming into the town. But they seem to think that the only thing they need to do is to make traffic move faster round town. They wanted a big ring-road in the town centre, but the campaign from the Liberal Democrats and others stopped it.

Town Centre 'one-way racetrack' survey.

Railway campaign

Having commuted up to London to work for many years, Stephen Robinson understands all the challenges rail travellers face. He has regularly contacted railway customer services on issues such as lack of information when services are disrupted and ticket machines not working properly.

If you have an issue to raise, please let Stephen know.

Link to email Stephen Robinson .

Rail capacity must increase for passengers to escape cattle truck Britain http://is.gd/8Rgu

Rail passengers fobbed off with Government short termism http://is.gd/8RhS

Government condemning rail passengers to overcrowding and delays http://is.gd/8Riq

MORE trains not less - Robinson: http://is.gd/hnyj

Crossrail: will Labour deliver? http://is.gd/hnzo

Rail Fare rip off: http://is.gd/hnyH

Other Links

The "I hate National Express East Anglia" blog (not connected to the Liberal Democrats).

Facebook group: I travel with National Express East Anglia.

Facebook group: we need cheaper rail.

More carriages for our rail service - 3 April 2009.

Chelmsford ninth worst in East Anglia for rail crime - 7 April 2009.

Essex Chronicle's Commuter News stories.

Latest transport stories from Chelmsford

Wed 7th Jul 2010:

Have your say on Essex CC bus pass review.

Free bus travel for over-60's is now being reviewed by Essex County Council, who are taking over responsibility for funding the project from the Borough Council. The County Council are running a consultation until the end of September on how much users value their free bus pass.

Tue 6th Jul 2010:

Lib Dem Minister announces £15m Government funding for green buses.

The Liberal Democrat Minister for Transport has announced new funding to put low carbon buses within the reach of as many operators and local authorities as possible throughout England. Bus operators and councils can bid for the money which they can then use towards the additional up front cost of buying low carbon buses.

Sat 12th Dec 2009:

Chelmsford commuters would rather work near home.

Commuters making the daily train trip from Chelmsford to London would rather work nearer home, even if that means taking a pay cut. That was the conclusion of research undertaken by Stephen Robinson and Chelmsford Liberal Democrats.

Mon 7th Dec 2009:

Passengers Face Two Years of Lame Duck National Express Rail Franchise.

A call has been made for National Express to lose its East Anglia rail franchise immediately, not to wait for two years. The Government announced that the NXEA franchise (affecting services from Chelmsford to London and to Norfolk) would end three years early. Stephen Robinson, Liberal Democrats Parliamentary candidate for Chelmsford, said: "This is a curious decision in danger of satisfying nobody.

Mon 18th May 2009:

Train company brings in booking fees.

Chelmsford's train operator National Express East Anglia is bringing in a booking fee for people who wish to reserve seats. The Liberal Democrats have attacked the decision, saying it will hurt the elderly and infirm particularly badly.

Sun 8th Feb 2009:

Conservatives don't really oppose Stansted expansion.

Conservative pledges on environmental damage to mid Essex from runway building have been revealed to be wafer-thin. In the House of Commons last week, Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers MP said: "We do not rule out the possibility of airport expansion in the south-east" (see Hansard: http://is.gd/iP0B)

Tue 6th Jan 2009:

County Council's maintenance policy a 'danger to the disabled'.

The latest victim of the cutbacks in footpath maintenance is local Councillor Ros Webb. She tripped and injured herself on uneven block paving in Market Square, Chelmsford town centre.

Tue 2nd Dec 2008:

Stephen Robinson condemns rail fares increase.

The Liberal Democrats have demanded a freeze on rail fares and called for the planned rail fares increases for January to be abandoned. This follows the train operators' announcement of a 6% increase in the cost of regulated fares for January 2008,

Fri 21st Nov 2008:

Lib Dem MP condemns local rail cuts .

Chelmsford's train operator National Express East Anglia has announced that it is removing the restaurant car and call centre jobs from for its service in East Anglia. One of the Lib Dem MPs (who regularly uses the line) has joined Chelmsford Lib Dem Stephen Robinson in attacking the decision. Norman Lamb MP said: "This line is already a second-class service in many respects."

Thu 23rd Oct 2008:

Essex potholes get deeper .

Less than half of local residents are satisfied with the speed at which potholes are fixed or with the quality of the repairs. These are the findings of a review of Essex County council's highways maintenance initiative from the Conservative-led administration.

Mon 20th Oct 2008:

Urgent Call for Widford Park and Ride.

Chelmsford Liberal Democrats have called on the County Council for increased priority for the provision of a Park and Ride Service from Widford,

Thu 25th Sep 2008:

What are our streets for?

The national 'In Town, Without My Car' day passed this week (22 September) without being even acknowledged by the ruling Conservative party at Essex County Council, denying local communities any chance to participate. This annual campaign is run to remind all highway users that our streets are shared by road and pavement users and that there are other people using the same space.

Mon 28th Jul 2008:

Exposed: 'Deep' flaws in Tories' cost-cutting potholes policy.

It has been confirmed that Conservative-run Essex County Council's new policy for fixing potholes is leaving dangerous holes unrepaired in Chelmsford's roads. The new policy stipulates that potholes must be over 50mm deep before they are repaired. This means that, for example, the two in Wood Street (pictured) and already six months old, will not be repaired under the new guidelines despite the hazard they are causing to road users.

Wed 25th Jun 2008:

CBC Residents on street Parking Permits increased by 28%.

Chelmsford council have increased the charge for visitor parking tickets in residential zones by 67% from 1 July. The annual residential parking permits rise from £18 to £23, an increase of circa 28%. [Six monthly permits from £12 to £17.]

Mon 9th Jun 2008:

Stansted Expansion Plan Attacked.

The Conservatives on the Borough Council's Development Policy Committee on Wednesday 21st May, were forced to abandon the published recommendation after Lib Dem Leader Mike Mackrory led the way in voicing the widespread opposition to plans for a second runway at Stansted. The Committee was being asked to respond to the planning application for a second runway at Stansted now in front of Uttlesford District Council. The original recommendation was to object unless road transport links were improved.

Earlier Stories

Complete archive on the official site.

Chelmsford Liberal Democrats News Stories, provided by Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/.

(c) 2010 Chelmsford Liberal Democrats