Dale hits out at sale of Rossendale Transport buses

5.12.17pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 9th May 2009

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Dale Mulgrew has raised concerns after it was recently revealed that Rossendale Transport could be sold off to a national bus company. Dale has joined forces with Rochdale MP Paul Rowen who this week submitted an Early Day Motion to Parliament warning that a possible future sale would lead to local bus services throughout Lancashire bring cut, leaving a number of jobs at risk.

Rossendale and Darwen's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Dale Mulgrew said: 'I have witnessed first hand the services provided by Rossendale Transport as my bus route into Rochdale Town Centre from Whitworth is the 446. I am also finding it difficult at present to understand why Rossendale Council should be even considering selling off a business which is in profit?'

'The management of Rossendale transport have done a wonderful job keeping the company afloat against an ever fluctuating world of petrol price instability and an ever changing world of public subsidy for transport. Because of their instinctive commitment to the community, I think Rossendale transport will retain a tremendous brand loyalty from the people of the Valley - this would be a bulwark to any outside commercial interests.'

'By also talking to Councillors in Darwen they have a great ill ease about losing control of the routes that they used to provide. The threat of the loss of routes in the future should be a major factor in the thinking of Rossendale Council on this, as the right to move about is a fundamental human imperative.'

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: 'The privatisation of Rossendale Transport

would be absolutely catastrophic for the community. Here in Rochdale I know that they serve many housing estates which wouldn't have a service otherwise. These estates also tend to be the places where our most vulnerable live, such as pensioners, and without this regular service they will struggle to carry out their day to day business. This is why I have tabled an EDM in Parliament this week questioning the sale of Rossendale Transport. I simply cannot understand why they would consider selling off a profit making service that will put more jobs at risk.'