ANGRY Liberals have blasted Lancashire County Council for slowing down moves to provide new community minibuses for Pendle.

County officials were summoned to Pendle by the area's ruling Liberal administration more than a year ago to explain why they had failed to deliver the buses. Local councillors were told the buses would be on the road early this financial year which began in April.

Now, almost two years since the buses were first promised, patience has run out in Pendle. "We were given very firm promises early this year but they have again been broken," said Councillor Doris Allen, chairman of Pendle Council services committee.

"Meanwhile passengers have had to put up with riding on a 'old bangers' for another year. In addition money has again been wasted on repairing clapped-out vehicles and hiring temporary replacements.

"The whole saga is nothing less than amazing. I just do not know how the county council, which is run by the Labour Party, can be quite so bureaucratic and inefficient as it has been."

One of the two new buses is now promised for early next month and the second for "some time" in the spring.

Under the Pendle Community Transport scheme the specially converted minibuses provide door-to-door transport for the disabled and people who have problems getting about .

"Pendle Community Transport is a lifeline for some people to get them out of their homes," added Coun Allen.

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