Bus services were one of the main items at the Skircoat ward forum on 30 March, in particular the withdrawal of the 36 bus service.  An officer from Metro, Neil Holt, said that the current bus network was the best they can offer in Calderdale. He claimed that the new service is adequate for the people catching it.

There were a lot of angry comments from members of the public

Pauline Nash

Pauline Nash, candidate for Skircoat ward, referred to the survey undertaken by the Liberal Democrat team. She said that It was quite obvious that there was a roomful of people saying the buses were not adequate. Some people were having to leave for work an hour earlier. There were two main issues with the service now being offered.  First not frequent enough, and second does not start soon enough and ends too soon.

Conclusions of the bus survey (download full report below)

Hardship is being caused to older and less able people who do not drive, as well as school and university students.  Many people who replied to the survey pointed out they are using their car more, which is environmentally harmful.

The main issues raised are that :-

• People would use the bus service more if more frequent services were available
• That 20% of those surveyed always considered the buses to run late, with 62% saying that buses ran mostly on time
• The overwhelming view was that deterioration in bus services was unacceptable at a time when trying to reduce a carbon footprint.

People’s thoughts on the new services provided were

• Too infrequent
• Not reliable
• Overcrowded.

This was also borne out of feedback from the residents of Copley Village at a meeting of the Copley Residents Association held on 1^st March 2010.

Recommendations – What needs to be done

Cllr Stephen Gow with the 36 before it stopped

Cllr Stephen Gow, report author, states: From the responses that the Liberal Democrats have received, there is a customer base in the area to re-introduce a more frequent service during peak times to at least half hourly. This could either be done by

• Introducing new services
• Diverting existing services from the main Huddersfield-Halifax route

You can read the full report below:

What next?

Skircoat Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a better bus service for local residents.

You can download the full report here:

Bus Survey Results

Halifax Liberal Democrats have announced four of their candidates for the forthcoming local elections.

Pauline Nash

Pauline Nash has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Skircoat Ward. Pauline hopes to become the second Liberal Democrat Councillor in the ward following Cllr Stephen Gow’s victory in 2007. Pauline stood in Skircoat, her home ward, in the March 2009 by-election, when she came just 118 votes behind her Conservative rival.

A former youth and community worker, Pauline, of Heath Road, Halifax, has been a magistrate since 1981 and has served as a member of the Board of the Halifax Opportunities Trust.

Pauline says, ‘On the doorstep people are concerned that their voice is not heard in the right places in the Town Hall and that important decisions, such as the sudden withdrawal of the 36 bus and the proposals for Copley, are being made without consultation. That is why I support the Liberal Democrat plans for a more open council that consults local people properly on the matters that affect them the most.’

Cllr Stephen Gow says. ‘Pauline is known by many people throughout the ward and will make an excellent local ward Councillor. She is a no nonsense character who will work hard for the residents of Skircoat ward.’

Shazad Fazal

Shazad Fazal has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Park ward. Shazad hopes to become the second Liberal Democrat Councillor in the ward following Cllr Mohammed Ilyas’ victory in 2009.

Halifax born and bred, Shazad currently works for the Lloyds group of companies as a customer service advisor.  Shazad has been active in the community, volunteering for the Citizens Advice Bureau and as a governor of Saint Augustine’s school. He is a union member, and vice chair of the Park Kashmir Society.

Shazad says: “People in Park ward feel the Council does not pay them enough attention.  They want basic services from the council – starting with clean streets, and better amenities for young and old.”

Cllr Mohammed Ilyas says: “Shazad is keen, energetic and concerned about all the community in Park. He would be a fighter for the area.”

Elizabeth Ward

Newcomer Elizabeth Ward is challenging council leader Cllr Stephen Baines as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Northowram and Shelf. Elizabeth attended Northowram Junior School and Crossley Heath School before completing her A levels at Greenhead College.

She recently graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in French and German, and is currently working in a pastoral role in a Kirklees school. At university Elisabeth was the Lead Student Ambassador, working in outreach projects to encourage secondary school pupils from under-represented groups to continue to higher education. This is her first council contest.

…….

Elizabeth says: “I was inspired by David Howarth MP in Cambridge, and joined the Liberal Democrats while I was at Cambridge University. Now I want to do something in my own community.”

Parliamentary Candidate for Halifax Elisabeth Wilson says: “Elizabeth is a competent and energetic candidate who would be an asset to Northowram and Shelf. I was elected to the County Council when I was her age.”

Ashley Evans

Ashley Evans has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Warley ward, bidding to join Cllr Jennifer Pearson and Cllr Robert Pearson. He runs a successful retail design consultancy, and has lived in Sowerby Bridge since 1990.

Ashley was Vice Chair of Governors at Crossley Heath until recently, and has been Chair of Governors at Triangle J & I School for many years. He is a member of the Calderdale Schools Forum, an active member of Sowerby Bridge Rotary, and has experience setting up food co-operatives including early involvement with Suma. Outside work Ashley was a keen rugby player and later coach, as well as managing a pop band. Ashley Evans has stood for Ryburn ward previously for the Liberal Democrats.

Ashley says: “I am looking forward to joining the committed and effective Liberal Democrat team in Warley, and working for the communities of Pellon, Mount Tabor and Warley.”

Cllr Jennifer Pearson says: “Ashley brings a wealth of business and voluntary experience that will be a tremendous asset for the people in Warley ward”.

Pauline Nash has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Skircoat Ward by-election to be held on April 2^nd. Mrs Nash hopes to become the second Liberal Democrat Councillor in the ward following Cllr Stephen Gow’s victory in 2007. Pauline stood in Skircoat, her home ward, in May 2008, coming second to Cllr Wainwright.

A former youth and community worker, Pauline, of Heath Road, Halifax, has been a magistrate since 1981 and has served as a member of the Board of the Halifax Opportunities trust.

Pauline says, ‘This by-election has come about in unfortunate circumstances but I look forward to fighting the seat again. On the doorstep last year people were concerned that their voice was not heard in the right places in the Town Hall and that important decisions, such as the new waste contract and the introduction of wheelie bins, are being made without consultation. That is why I support the Liberal Democrat plans for a more open council that consults local people properly on the matters that affect them the most.’

Cllr Stephen Gow says. ‘Pauline is known by many people throughout the ward and will make an excellent local ward Councillor. She is a no nonsense character who will work hard for Skircoat ward.’