COUNTY council bosses have been criticised for pushing ahead with a £4million bus information scheme despite facing severe cuts to its budget.

Yesterday it was revealed Essex County Council was facing a £126million shortfall in its budget due to Government cuts.

Services and staff are set to be cut as a result, but ruling councillors have voted to push ahead with plans for a possible £4million bus telematics scheme despite calls from the opposition for it to be scrapped.

Bus telematics includes visual display units at bus stops telling people when their bus is likely to arrive and about any cancellations or delays.

The system could also offer real time updates via mobile phones and other electronic devices.

Norman Hume, councillor responsible for highways and transportation, said: “The importance of information to the travelling public has never been shown to be greater.

“I am going to have to take a lot of persuading that we should not improve information rather than completely withdraw it.”

A formal business case is still being prepared.

Mr Hume added: “We are out testing the market as we speak. Modern technology is the way forward if we want to encourage bus use.

“There is no choice but to move away from car use so the quality of public transport is critical to the market shift we all want.”

Opposition Lib Dem councillor David Kendall put forward a motion to the council for the investment to be stopped.

He wanted a motion stating: “Members are not convinced the plans to replace the existing system represent good value for money for the residents of Essex.”

He urged the council to put £1million back into savings and spend the rest on maintaining or improving the bus service itself instead of putting £4million into the upgrades.

However the motion was rejected and the scheme will continue.