Thursday, January 14, 2010

Don't Tonbridge 6th Formers need Freedom too?...

Empowering young people, improving safety, financially assisting families, promoting healthier lifestyles and encouraging use of sustainable transport are some of the very worthy reasons that the Kent Freedom Pass was introduced by Kent County Council a few years ago. The pass is "free" although there is, somewhat paradoxically, a £50 "administration" fee once a year to obtain one. Not too bad when you consider that the average cost per year to get to school from Tonbridge to Tunbridge Wells is around £750, so £50 is a big saving. Where's the problem then you might be thinking. Well apparently all these reasons for having the Freedom Pass don't apply to six formers and college students. Now ask yourself who's more likely to get the biggest benefit from the pass? Who is more likely to drive in to school and clog up the streets around their school? Who's more likely to risk their lives on a motor scooter rather than fork out for expensive fares. The really scandalous thing is that all school children, no matter how old, are charged full fare, on Arriva buses (and probably others) during the morning peak; so their daily fare would be over three pounds. Yes there are weekly and monthly tickets available but with hardly any savings. Now imagine if you'd bought a weekly pass this week during the icy conditions, with schools being closed and buses being badly delayed. You probably wouldn't be best pleased. So come on KCC spend our money on something which would be of real benefit to young people and parents, as well as freeing the roads and residential streets of yet more unnecesary cars and extend the freedom pass to all students. Maybe by increasing the admin fee to £100 if needs be; that would still be a huge saving for all and would allow it to apply to the students it would truely benefit....

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I get the impression that when it rains the cars come out again in the mournings and the Freedom Passes stay in the pockets. It always used to be the case that travel to school over 3 miles was free, so in your case you are paying an extra £50 p.a.

If you watch the KCC council meeting webcast just for the Freedom Pass debate (10 mins) you will see the discussion on post 16 year olds. It looks like KCC will be looking for the government to fund this.

delia said...

On a different note. I spent the time over Christmas being very discriminative about my recyling. Pulling the cellophane parts from gift boxes and recycling the cardboard part, taking the tubes out of crackers and recycling into the green bin. The tree was chopped up and also desposited in the green bin as this year we were told this could be done. It really takes time but I do what I can.
The black bin was left out for collection on a snowy day and it wasn't collected. Today the green bin was left outside with the black bin.
To everyone's horror and there has been talk of it ever since, both green and black bins were deposited into the same vehicle.
So, It's ok for TMBC to do this but not ok for us.
Could someone explain the logic or the psychology behind this.
To me it stinks and just shows the double standards. I am actually furious. FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

So Woolworths is turning into a '99p Store' - from one cheapo shop to another! Wish the redevelopment of the Botany site would get underway to get some bigger, more upmarket (hopefully) names in.

delia said...

how horrible another cheap store

Tonbridge blogger said...

Delia: I would imagine that the council decided that it was better to just get the bins away even at the cost of not recycling for once. I can sort of see their logic here; there have been cases on the news of people in rural parts not having had their rubbish taken away for 5 or 6 weeks. That poses a health hazard. I'm just guessing but that's probably why so don't be too furious....

delia said...

I am afraid that won't wash Tonbridge Blogger. Simply because refuse hasn't been collected in other parts of the country is no argument for placing the two in one refuse truck. Other arrangements should have been made. It simply does not give the correct message. It is winter and the green bins in the lower temps don't particularly cause a health hazard. Maybe it was more of an opportunity not to send the trucks out twice and save a little for the budget.