Busway Funding Approved

11 March 2010, 05:53 | Updated: 15 March 2010, 11:24

There's controversy surrounding the announcement made earlier this week about the final funding for the Luton - Dunstable Busway Scheme.

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan was at Luton train station on Tuesday, where he announced that £89 million is going towards the new scheme.

He's been telling Heart:

"An efficient and reliable transport system is the heartbeat of every local community. This area is currently undergoing a major rejuvenation and I am pleased to say that it will now have a first rate transport system to match. When completed, this scheme will benefit the entire community by easing congestion and encouraging greater integration between services."

To listen to the full interview with the Transport Minister click here.

It means work can now start on the project, which will link Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis using specially adapted buses which will run both on the road and on their own tracks.

However one MP has expressed his anger towards yesterday's announcement.

The MP for South West Bedfordshire, Andrew Selous, has called for the money, 80 million from government funding and 9 million from Luton Borough Council, to be put towards providing the A5-M1 bypass to the north of Dunstable as opposed to the Busway scheme.

Andrew Selous has been telling Heart:

"The A5-M1 link will lead to less congestion, more ships in Dunstable High Street and new employers wanting to locate to Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Houghton Regis. There is no certainty that the Busway will provide these benefits and local people in Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Houghton Regis and surrounding villages would tell transport Minister Sadiq Khan that the decision to fund the Busway is not the best use of their money. I wish the government would listen to people."

To listen to Andrew Selous in more detail click here