Roads more congested than ever before

6.00.39pm GMT Sat 19th Jan 2008

When Labour came to power in 1997, then then deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said, 'I will have failed if in five years' time there are not many more people using public transport and far fewer journeys by car. It's a tall order but I urge you to hold me to it.'

Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats in Parliament show that under Labour, the number of vehicles on roads in Dorset have increased 13%.

The government promised so much, but delivered more congestion, pollution, and more expensive buses and trains.

The Liberal Democrats welcome the Transport Bill currently being debated by Parliament. It'll give powers to councils to improve bus services. It would have been more welcome ten years ago, and even now there's a danger that these powers are going to be watered down.

Thanks to the Lib Dem Council prior to May 2007, extra money was put aside so retired residents in Bournemouth could enjoy free bus travel after 9.30am, including on routes beyond Bournemouth.

From April 2008 free travel will stop at 11pm. This has been imposed by Labour's new national free bus travel scheme.