MPs criticise Boris Johnson over snow action
LONDON (Reuters) - London Mayor Boris Johnson did not do enough and failed to provide leadership to help avert the chaos caused by the heaviest snowfall in the capital for decades earlier this year, a committee of MPs said on Friday.
Freezing weather and up to 20 cm of snow which fell on February 2 brought London to a standstill with nearly all underground train services suffering and most overground routes affected.
Furthermore Johnson ordered the suspension of all bus services, which normally carry about 6 million commuters across London.
The Transport Select Committee said all councils needed to improve transport coordination during times of adverse weather but singled out Johnson for criticism.
"The travel disruption at the beginning of February was unsatisfactory," said Louise Ellman, the committee's Labour chairman.
"While the unusually heavy snowfall meant that some disruption was inevitable, it is vital that all those involved ensure that winter maintenance plans and crisis responses are reconsidered so as to minimise disruption in the future."
The committee said it was concerned about the closure of the London bus network and expressed disappointment at Johnson, who had a testy exchange with MPs when he gave evidence to them, for his "apparent disregard for scrutiny."
"More active strategic leadership from Mayor Johnson and more practical effort on his part to oversee preparations for a rare but forecast event could have given the public far more confidence and might have ensured public transport services were restored much more quickly," Ellman said.
Johnson, the Conservative mayor, said the committee appeared to have taken a "partisan and wholly opportunistic approach." Continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment