Lib Dems call for more investment in transport (Brentwood & Ongar Liberal Democrats)

Brentwood & Ongar Liberal Democrats <info@brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems call for more investment in transport

August 30, 2009 9:01 PM

Cllr David Kendall welcomes the call for more investment in public transport, having fought for this himself for many years

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Cllr David Kendall has welcomed a Liberal Democrat MP's call to ease the plight of commuters by investing in faster trains, fewer crowded carriages and more bus schemes.

Jo Swinson MP has revealed that the average British commuter now spends nearly as much time travelling to work as they do on holiday, according to Lib Dem research. The research also showed that for the country's 25 million commuters, travelling to and from work takes up the equivalent of 169.3 hours a year, or just under 23 working days and that most employees are entitled to around 26 days annual holiday, but failed to take at least two of them.

Furthermore, a recent government-commissioned survey found that commuters would pay more than £5 a day if it could save them an hour's commute and that Londoners travel the furthest to get to work, commuting an average of 1,370 miles a year.

Cllr Kendall said:

"The commute from Brentwood can often be frustrating and stressful, it is a moderate commute but the government's own research shows that this makes people less happy.

""Although we now have some promise of investment in Brentwood's trains, this will still be a year or so away and is long overdue. As far as buses, Brentwood is not an easy place to travel around by bus.

"The Government should concentrate on easing the plight of commuters by investing in faster trains, fewer crowded carriages and more bus schemes."