transport

manda rigby – liberal democrat

Rural transport is a significant issue in Wiltshire, especially for the young and elderly who are less likely to have access to cars and Wiltshire Council cuts are making matters worse. I am particularly concerned about plans to axe the Hopper Bus Service to the RUH in November. Many in the Devizes Constituency have to make long journeys to Bath or Swindon for treatment. Services are unreliable and this further discourages usage.

Encouraging the use of public transport, and cycling has always been promoted by the Lib Dems. The news that services are likely to be downgraded at Great Bedwyn with electrification of the line stopping at Newbury are a further blow, and something I would challenge vigorously. Investment in the railways should be a priority, and our only rail link in the Constituency protected, with the proposal of a station at or close to Marlborough taken seriously.

emma dawnay – green

Transport is a huge problem in a rural constituency like this one. People who can’t afford to buy a car find their opportunities for jobs, apprenticeships or further study severely limited. Elderly people who can no longer drive can be forced to move into old-people’s homes, as they can’t get to shops. Train fares are prohibitively expensive. There aren’t enough cycle paths, and minor roads which should be cycle friendly often have dangerous pot holes.

The Green Party would stop the austerity drive that is causing Wiltshire Council to cut bus services such as Connect2, and campaign for better services such as a direct service between Marlborough and Devizes at suitable times for commuting to work or study.

We’d bring the rail service back under public ownership, ensuring that profits are reinvested and fares reduced and we’d campaign for the lost rail services to Marlborough and Devizes to be reinstated, paid for by the scrapping of the High Speed Two project.

Our local road building policy would focus on improved safety, especially for cyclists.

We aim to reduce the need for transport by supporting local facilities and by facilitating working from home with better broadband.

david pollit – ukip

UKIP does not believe that proposals for HS2 are cost effective so we will scrap it.  We would rather use the money to bring our road and rail links into the 21st century, having the added benefit of providing local jobs for local people.  As the PPC I am appalled at the shoddy standard of roads in the constituency.  

The Tory poster claiming to be on the road to economic recovery using a depiction of a road in Germany, pretty much sums up where successive governments have gone wrong.  In order to support a successful economy the road and rail infrastructure needs to be brought up to a much higher standard nationwide.  

This should not just be down to local councils who are unable to fund such a programme.  The British government has the money but simply refuses to release it, concentrating instead on ego projects.  

Roads and railways are of national strategic importance and will be funded as such.  We oppose tolls on public roads so all existing contracts will be allowed to expire, but all foreign vehicles entering the UK will be required to buy a ‘Britdisc’ which is fairer than using speed cameras as a revenue raiser.