Cllr Jon Hubbard

The Asda Free Bus Fiasco revealed

Published on Friday 22nd July 2011 by Phil MacDonald

Pressure from local residents and Melksham Lib Dems has revealed the fiasco behind the Council’s failure to provide a free bus to Melksham’s new Asda store, a promise previously made by Melksham’s Conservative Councillors.

The documents show how the Conservatives failed to check the agreements they signed off with Asda, allowing the contract to slip through without any provision for a free bus, whilst publicly, Melksham’s Conservatives continued to trumpet their success.

Local Councillor Jon Hubbard, Lib Dem for Melksham South, said “Whichever way you look at it, this is an embarrassment for the Conservatives. When it counted, they were more worried about sounding-off to the press, than checking the agreement they’d signed. Melksham has missed out on a free bus because the Conservatives took their eye off the ball.”

“Traffic on the Bradford Road is already suffering as the promised improvements to the traffic lights have failed to materialise. Where has the money gone that Asda has given the Council? A free bus might have helped relieve at least a little of the pressure. As it is, Melksham residents will not be getting what they were promised by the Conservatives. Now those who use the new bus service will have to pay. The Tories have found another way to squeeze money out of the people who are least able to afford it.”