Stalling at the lights: Lib Dems react to details from the budget relating to transport in Birmingham

There had been rumours that HS2 to the North would be reinstated to Crewe, however the only mention of HS2 today was to confirm the build of the infrastructure between Old Oak Common and Euston station. 

Funding was made available to improve roads. 

“Locally, we need funding to improve road safety.” Added Cllr Harmer “There was no mention of schemes to improve road safety in today’s budget, however we recognise that this is a problem with a particular Birmingham flavour. 

“Birmingham’s roads have seen far too many deaths and serious collisions recently, and despite a strong outcry from the public for more to be done, and the calling of a road safety emergency, we can see no material improvements locally.” 

Separately, the Government also announced today that the ceiling price for a single bus ticket would increase by a whopping 50% from £2 to £3. 

“This seems a bizarre decision, at a time when bus usage is in decline, yet we are supposed to be getting more people onto public transport.”