‘Busway or else’ - Lib Dems claim blackmail bid

Lib Dem group leader David Franks came under fire from Luton News readers after criticising the busway project in our newspaper after we revealed the growing concerns over the scheme.

He responded in our letters page by explaining that when the party tried to cancel the project on the basis that it did not offer value for money, he received a visit from an officer from GO East, the Government Office for the East of England, who threatened that funding for other projects around the town would be cancelled.

Speaking to the Luton News on Monday, Councillor Franks said: “The threat was made verbally. He made his position very clear and left us in no doubt that he was not bluffing. It was followed up with a letter from the East of England Development Agency, which was very subtle in its wording.”

In the March 2004 letter, which the Luton News has seen, EEDA chief executive David Marlow asked for Luton Borough Council to “re-confirm its commitment to progress this scheme at the earliest opportunity”, saying the “region’s credibility” rested on delivery of major investment that had funding available.

Councillor Franks said: “The officer who visited trotted out everything about the importance of investment in public transport. He said government support would be withdrawn from the dual carriageway from the M1 to the airport, the new St George’s Square, Stockwood Discovery Centre, the million pound refurbishment of Wardown Park and two brand new sheltered accommodation schemes.

“That was huge investment in the town with huge benefits for everyone and we couldn’t risk losing it. If we thought he was bluffing we would have called his bluff, we’re not softies.

“It went beyond the bounds of what is reasonable by effectively blackmailing us into a £90 million project that we thought, and still think, is going to be a waste of money.”

Mr Franks added that the party had gone public with the news at the time.

Reacting to Mr Franks’ recent letter in the Luton News, readers Sue and Ian Hoube, of Hillcroft, Dunstable, said: “This surely must constitute a denigration of the democratic rights of the electorate. As local residents we are appalled by this.”

Another reader, James Ashby, said: “Why did Councillor Franks idly stand by and allow the Government to bully and dictate about something that just doesn’t have public support?”

“Sadly all local taxpayers will bear the taxation burden for years to come.”