No to Longport coach return

By Alex Perkins, Liberal Democrat Canterbury City Council Leader

Liberal Democrat Leader Alex Perkins told the City Council Executive on Thursday that there was no chance whatsoever of coaches returning to Longport while the Liberals lead the City Council.

In response to an item raised by Conservative members through the Overview and Scrutiny Committee he said, “the Longport Coach car park was an expensive folly which never even worked. I do not accept the constant assertions by the local Conservatives that coaches should be there. We are introducing a raft of other proposals to handle coaches which are unfortunately seen by most resident as an unwanted blight on the City.”

”To put coaches into Longport would cost the residents of this city getting on for a quarter of a million pounds a year” Added LibDem Transport spokesman Nick Eden-Green. “I am simply not willing to ask local people to foot that bill. Our intention is to have coach drop off by the East Station, near Northgate and at the bus station and this should be up and running by next year. This represents the best deal for local people and I will not bow to the almost constant Conservative demands to return the coaches to the Longport area.”

New traffic controls at St.Georges roundabout have eased vehicle movements through the bus station and the intension is to provide new coach drop off points which will be sited next to the bus station.

Contact Alex Perkins 07818 403049