Written evidence from C Sweetland (BUS
95)
I live in a rural area of Somerset and have already
written to my local MP regarding the situation which I find very
unfair regarding public buses. It seems to me extremely unfair
that subsidies for bus passes for young people and EMA etc is
being withdrawn and yet the over 60's still do not have to contribute
anything towards their tickets. (And please don't tell me that
there will be other arrangements to replace the EMA because that
is only available to those who don't work or who didn't make an
effort in the past and not to people like me, a single parent
who has worked very hard and gained a job with a moderate income.)
Why could the over 60's not pay a small amount rather
than the young having to pay ridiculously high fares. My middle
daughter will not be able to attend the excellent colleges in
Taunton or Bridgewater, like her elder sister, because there are
no buses connecting at the beginning and end of day for students,
and yet there are still several running during the middle of the
day for those not paying. As a parent, do I decide to continue
working, travelling in the opposite direction to the town where
my daughter wants to attend college or do I give up work so that
I can take her to the college so that she can get her A levels
and progress towards a career?
I am not alone in having to make this decision and
it seems so unfair. What is the point of having colleges offering
vocational training etc if there is no infrastructure to support
the students getting there.
There are in my opinion, many more people over 60
who can afford the bus fares more easily than young people.
Please think again.
April 2011
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