8:20am Monday 11th May 2009
By James Wallin
PARK and ride services in North Swindon still look set to face the axe after a consultation showed that commuters would be unwilling to pay higher fares to retain the service.
But the councillor in charge of transport has hinted that new sites could be found for both of Swindon’s park and rides.
The date the last bus will leave the Groundwell site is still unclear, although the consultation process has been extended.
The service was due to be axed at the end of May but the Adver understands it will now run until July.
Councillors voted in February to mothball the North Swindon park and ride, with a predicted saving of £331,000.
Coun Peter Greenhalgh, the lead member for sustainability, transport and strategic planning, could not confirm the exact date the Groundwell site would be closed.
He said: “We did extend the date because of the consultation process.
“If we were going to operate the park and ride on a cost neutral basis we wanted know if people would pay the amount necessary.
“It did not seem many people were prepared to pay the higher amount.
“It is disappointing because we certainly don’t want to get rid of park and ride.
We know that the Save Park and Ride Kampaign have fought vehemently to save this service. I fully understand their concerns. But the reality is that we don’t have the money to keep subsidising this service.
“We are looking into if we can eventually operate a park and ride from a better location.
“That does not mean we are selling off the Groundwell site – there are absolutely no plans to do that.
“We have looked at other possible sites. Obviously something closer to the A419 or the motorway would be ideal and we are looking into that.
“In my opinion both park and rides are in the wrong place.”
Protesters at SPARK have challenged the council’s projected savings and insisted that alternatives to closure could be found.
Labour group leader and transport spokesman Derique Montaut said one of the options he and campaigners were exploring is taking the matter to judicial review with the help of North Swindon MP Michael Wills.
Coun Montaut added: “The fact they are extending the consultation shows the controlling group seem to be playing a game.
“That game does not take into account the concerns that we have on road safety and what their real intentions are.
“People in Swindon need to make plans for the future and they need to know where they are going on this issue.”
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