Guided bus champion joins transport commission

SHONA Johnstone, who resigned a year ago as leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, and who steered the St Ives-Cambridge guided busway through the authority, has been appointed to the Commission for Integrated Transport. Cllr Johnstone, who lives in Ove

SHONA Johnstone, who resigned a year ago as leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, and who steered the St Ives-Cambridge guided busway through the authority, has been appointed to the Commission for Integrated Transport.

Cllr Johnstone, who lives in Over, is also a member of the Local Government Association's Regeneration and Transport Board.

She left the county council's cabinet last October after admitting that she had made a mistake over the appointment of Mark Lloyd as the council's new chief executive.

Her part-time appointment, which carries an annual salary of £5,400, is one of five to the independent 15-member body, which advises the government on transport.

Chairman Peter Hendy said the new members "all come with a wealth of experience and expertise in transport delivery and will greatly enhance CfIT's expertise in a number of important areas.

"Having a broad range of transport experience and in depth expertise of delivery on the commission is vital if we are to advise the Government, robustly and independently, as our remit requires."

Cllr Johnstone was the cabinet member responsible for transport when the controversial £116million guided bus scheme went through the council and a subsequent public inquiry. It is due to open in about six months' time.

As leader, she strongly backed another controversial project - the council's bid to Government for £514million transport investment to compensate for congestion charging in the morning peak in Cambridge city. The plan, which could have delivered significant public transport and road improvements in Huntingdonshire, lost momentum after her departure and is now effectively stalled.