Conservative Councillors in B&NES have come under fire tonight for refusing to consider an independent review of the Bath Transportation Package. 

The Liberal Democrat motion which was tabled at the November Full Council meeting was intended to permit a proper debate on the Package, which has caused so much controversy.  However the Conservative Group forced through an amendment, which was also backed by Labour and Independent Councillors, to maintain nothing more than the status quo. 

We are still not convinced that all the alternatives have been properly looked at and that there has been real and meaningful consultation.  Once again the Conservatives have shut their ears to the protests which have been raised by the very people who will be worst affected by the scheme. 

The Conservatives seem only to be concerned with quibbling about who voted for what and when in the past.  But residents care more about what is on the table right now.  It is clear that the other parties do not care about residents’ concerns. 

The present situation is different in many ways to that agreed in the local transport plan, so the Tories should listen to the electorate and agree to an independent review to show the people that they are listening.  But we suspects as usual they won’t listen yet again.