Anger as Leicestershire left out again

The Conservative Government have failed to deliver funding for improved local bus services in Leicestershire

Last year, the Prime Minister announced that £3bn would be spent on "new funding to level up buses across England towards London standards", with local authorities encouraged to bid for the money.

However last night it was announced that the funding for the Bus Service Improvement Plan had been slashed to £1.2bn and that Leicestershire would be not be receiving any money.

Commenting on the decision, leader of Leicestershire Lib Dem County Councillors Michael Mullaney said: "This is a massive kick in the teeth to residents across Leicestershire who are crying out for better bus services, especially people living in our rural villages.

"We are seeing at the moment threats to local bus services serving areas in Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton and other parts of the county.

"At a time when our area needs support in maintaining bus services the government fails to deliver for Leicestershire yet again.

"With fuel prices rocketing and a need to protect the environment this was a perfect time for government to support public transport here in Leicestershire.

"The Conservatives promised us 'London standard' public transport here in areas like Leicestershire and they've delivered nothing.

"This is yet another example of how Leicestershire is taken for granted by this Tory government.

"Levelling up? What a joke!"