KCC pledges review over Freedom Pass

costs £100. Matt Stanley, the President of Mid Kent College Students’ Union, presented the petition to Kent County Council. It was started by Deal mother-oftwo Lynne Miller.

Mr Stanley said there was evidence high costs of the pass and travel generally were affecting students.

“Anecdotally, there is a lot of evidence that students are dropping out, or going to schools and colleges that are nearer to where they live or choosing options based on travel costs,” he said.

“It can only be a negative thing if students are being forced to make choices based on their ability to pay.” Kent County Council has appointed consultants to consider ways of improving the scheme and one option already floated is for the costs of the two passes to be more evenly balanced. That could see an increase in the Freedom Pass.

Cllr David Brazier (Con), KCC cabinet member for highways, said the council was already heavily subsidising the costs of both.

“The council has been innovative and generous in providing the Freedom Pass and post-16 pass.

“There is no extra money – none at all. We are not like London, which can draw on a huge tax base.”

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