‘Ending free bus travel for children ‘a slap in the face’
PLANS to axe free public transport for children “will be a real slap in the face” for residents who have obeyed lockdown rules, according to the leader of Richmond Council.
Councillor Gareth Roberts has urged the government to drop its controversial plans to stop free travel for children on London public transport and reduce free travel for the over-60s before 9am on weekdays, saying it will be a “disaster” for families, older people and council finances.
The plans are part of the emergency funding deal agreed between Transport for London (TfL) and the government.
The changes to older people’s travel are scheduled to come into force on June 15.
It is not yet known when free travel for children and teenagers will be removed, but the Evening Standard has reported it understands the changes are “unlikely” to be imposed before the school summer holidays.
Cllr Roberts said: “This will be one extra burden that people could do without.
“We are calling on the government to reconsider those conditions of the TfL bailout, which will have a damaging impact on local residents, could lead to a real increase in car journeys in the borough, and could lead to social isolation and missed opportunities for our young people.
“Londoners have done the right thing during the coronavirus crisis – they have stayed home and are continuing to stay home.
“It will be a real slap in the face if, when lockdown begins to end and our youngest and oldest residents feel safe to travel again, that they could be faced with a bill for doing so.”
In his letter to Transport Minister Grant Shapps, he said councils have a statutory obligation to provide free travel between home and school for certain children, and the new plans will have a huge financial impact on the borough.
London Councils has estimated it could cost councils in the region of £500,000 each to absorb the cost and the total across London as a whole will be around £16 million. It is currently estimated that the financial impact of the pandemic has cost Richmond Council in the region of £20m. Cllr Roberts said it was “simply unacceptable” to ask councils to bear the cost at this time. Sarah Olney, the MP for Richmond Park, has also written to Mr Shapps on behalf of London Liberal Democrats asking for a rethink. A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “We are working constructively with TfL on ways to reduce demand on the network during the Covid-19 crisis, including looking into the option of temporarily suspending free travel for under 18s. “We have also published clear advice that urges people to avoid public transport if possible, and announced £2 billion in funding to encourage even more people to begin cycling and walking.”
We are calling on the government to reconsider those conditions of the TfL bailout