tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79367181454779028.post8690204784930051993..comments2023-10-18T13:49:04.792+01:00Comments on Virtual Lancaster News Blog: Campaign to save local night buses as fury mounts over Labour-led County Council's bus cut plansAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09111099866285188994noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79367181454779028.post-50755043651979815782014-01-13T10:37:57.028+00:002014-01-13T10:37:57.028+00:00You know, for once, it would be nice if "Anon...You know, for once, it would be nice if "Anonymous" posters had the balls to decloak and say who they were when they come out with such stupid comments like the one above. Just because VL has highlighted a bad Labour plan for once, suddenly they're political? Yeah, we know the Tories are cutting their funding, but the Council is also spending what, £120 mill on a new road. The money might come from a separate budget but it makes no sense to me.David Warnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79367181454779028.post-37499785910602134752014-01-13T10:34:36.402+00:002014-01-13T10:34:36.402+00:00Thank you for your comments, "Anonymous"...Thank you for your comments, "Anonymous". Perhaps it has escaped your attention, but virtual-lancaster has run many stories down the years that could be described as 'overtly political', commenting on matters of concern to the community when our leaders - left or right - do something we feel the public should know about that will impact on their lives. <br /><br />In this case, the proposed cuts are the suggestion of the Labour-led council. Are we supposed to ignore that undeniable fact in our reporting? <br /><br />We have also in the past commented on what could be considered adverse policies of the government and the impact they may have on the local community. <br /><br />We are well aware that it can be argued that the privatisation of the bus service by the Tories in the past brought us to the situation we now find ourselves in. We said the same in our original announcement about the council's consultation on the planned cuts. <br /><br />We are also aware that Lancashire County Council is being forced to take cost cutting measures as a result of reduced funding for their work by central government. <br /><br />It is the view of people who will be adversely affected by these proposed cuts that to reduce funding on public transport is a false economy. That is what we are reporting, along with the concerns of local politicians - left and right.<br /><br />The Lancaster Guardian (link in the story) has also reported local concern about the proposed cuts. Are they being 'overtly political', too?<br /><br />Both the proposals and campaigns against them deserve our coverage. <br /><br />Following the publication of this story, to their credit, some Labour County councillors have echoed the concerns expressed by campaigners.<br /><br />When the Council is on the one hand proposing bus funding cuts but will also have a hand in plans for new housing estates and housing in Hornby and Caton, whose owners might desire access to buses, we don't think it is 'overtly political' to report on the matter. We think it even more important that the public be provided with information about the members of the community who are arguing against the cut proposals.Virtual Lancaster Editor John Freemanhttp://www.virtual-lancaster.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79367181454779028.post-56905363458408196112014-01-12T12:30:25.208+00:002014-01-12T12:30:25.208+00:00Getting a bit sick of VL being so overtly politica...Getting a bit sick of VL being so overtly political. Not why we come on here.<br /><br />Ps That Eric Ollernshaw has some CHEEK! Coming from a man who's voting every day of his life to cut money from the poorest folk in lancaster.<br /><br />Maybe if his government hadn't cut so much money from lancashire, what is it 200 /300 millionish? Stuff like this wouldnt get suggested.<br /><br />Time for some objectivity frim VL. We dont wanna read some pent up Tories views on life whoever wrote this! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com