The Anonymous Widower

Dealing with the Cambridge Busway Overspend

The long-running saga of the Cambridge Busway seems no nearer a conclusion, with no opening date announced.

But today the Cambridge News claims that a million pounds of taxpayers’ money could be spent on the busway.

Taxpayers’ money could be used to cover an overspend on the guided busway.

Cambridgeshire County Council has set aside £1 million of funding for local transport and community safety projects in a contingency fund.

Opposition Liberal Democrats say the cash is being set aside for the guided busway but the Conservative- run council has said the funding cuts are “not related specifically” to the project, although if developer contributions fall short, it could be.

Projects affected by the reductions for 2010/11 include safety schemes cut from £1 million to £800,000, the Cambridge Access Strategy cut from £600,000 to £447,000, community transport cut from £200,000 to £50,000, Market Town Strategy schemes cut from £1,575,000 to £1.4 million, and local bus infrastructure in Cambridge and Huntingdon cut from £975,000 to £680,000.

It looks like the busway may be on the point of being like an out-of-control bull in a china shop.

January 29, 2010 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Buses, Cambridge, Cambridge Busway