Public transport must be affordable

We are told that if we genuinely care about the quality of air in east Kent, then we must abandon our cars and travel on buses. After all, there are six buses an hour between Whitstable, Canterbury and Herne Bay, while the connection between Faversham and Canterbury is also regular.

But there’s a snag: the cost of using them, which has risen yet again, and has become to some prohibitively expensive.

Bus operator Stagecoach, which enjoys a near-monopoly on services in east Kent, points out that not all its fares are rising and that some are falling as a result of its ticket simplification programme.

Despite this, it is impossible to ignore the hikes. This is a cause for concern.

To use a bus when you have a car requires sacrificing the conveniences of it. Many on free bus passes are already happy to do so for an obvious reason.

If people, however, feel that getting to and from work or their children’s school on the bus is no longer financially sound, they may opt for a cheap car.

The reality is that if money is tight, people will put considerations about pollution and congestion below those of finance when factors such as feeding, clothing and heating the family are introduced into the equation.

Already, some former rail commuters have talked of forsaking trains to sit in rush-hour traffic just because it is cheaper.

Henry Stanton, of the Canterbury Green Party, repeatedly called for cheaper public transport during the general election campaign if we are to get serious about unclogging the streets and improving air quality.

His warnings, it seems, have gone unheeded.