Our campaign to improve young people's transport

The issue

The Liberal Democrats have long been campaigning against the Conservative administration's decision in 07/08 to reduce subsidies paid to assist post-16 students with transport costs. In a rural county like Norfolk, where aspiration levels and staying on rates post-16 have traditionally been low it is particularly important that high transport costs are not preventing students accessing education and training opportunities.

In 07/08 the Conservatives decided that future students should pay up to £318 a year for their transport, an increase of 55% on the previous year's price. They also decided to reduce subsidies further for those with disabilities or on low incomes. This decision was made by Norfolk County Council's cabinet even though 200 local students marched outside County Hall in protest and in spite of a review of consultation response data by the Liberal Democrat group revealing that 83% of consultation respondents disagreed with the key proposals.

Our view

At the cabinet meeting where this decision was first made Liberal Democrat spokesman for Children's Services, Mervyn Scutter, won applause from students when he challenged the Conservative decision-makers' support for proposals that 'ignored the views of the general public, those most affected by the decision and the opinions of informed professionals'.

The Liberal Democrats have always opposed the Conservatives' increased travel charges for young people and we think that money should be invested in providing them with a reduced fare travelcard instead that would enable them to travel anywhere in the County at any time. This could open up new work, training and leisure opportunities for our young people in rural areas.

What we are doing about it

Liberal Democrats opposed the increased charges for young people from the start and have argued annually that the Council's ruling Conservative group should invest in a reduced fare travelcard for young people. Other parts of the country run similar schemes successfully and there is evidence that it could work well in Norfolk without costing the earth.

We will lobby the Conservatives again in 2009 to free Norfolk's young people from the burden of high travel costs and to consider investing in a reduced fare travelcard for them.