PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Frank Doyle
Date of Issue: 14th December 2007
Contact number: 07734 414789

‘Cheap travel for under 20s’ call

A Liberal Democrat Councillor is leading a call for cheap travel for Wirral's young people to improve their access to leisure facilities.

Councillor Frank Doyle , Chair of the Council watchdog committee that overlooks services for children and young people said,

“At the recent Young People's Parliament the many young people who attended made it clear that this issue was a major concern.
“The Council is committed to offering all its young people access to somewhere to go and something to do, but without affordable transport that commitment is rather hollow.

“We want to bring together all the relevant Council committees to look at this issue, and consult with our young people and local transport providers to see what opportunities are out there for a concessionary fare scheme.”

“Cheap fare deals are on offer in other areas and we'd like to see if something similar can be introduced in Wirral.

“We'd also like our local MPs to lobby the Government to make provision nationally for such a scheme.”

Councillor Doyle's motion will be debated at Wirral's Full Council meeting on Monday December 17th.

The Liberal Democrat motion follows:

Notice of Motion - Liberal Democrat Group

YOUNG PERSON'S CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL SCHEME

This Council:

Recognises the importance of affordable and accessible public transport for young people aged up to and including 19, particularly in helping to deliver the Council's commitment to offer all young people in Wirral access to somewhere to go and something to do.

Resolves to establish a cross-party panel of Members from both the Environment, Transportation, Planning and Strategy and Scrutiny Committee and the Children's Services and Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to look at the current travel options available to Wirral's young people, and the opportunities for introducing a young person's concessionary travel scheme on Wirral's buses. This panel should consult with all key stakeholders, including young people, and report their findings back to Cabinet by 31 st March 2008.

Resolves to write to Wirral's MPs, the Transport Minister and the LGA, informing them of this motion and asking each to use their influence to encourage the Government to make provisions nationally for a young person's concessionary travel scheme.

Moved by: Councillor Frank Doyle
Seconded by: Councillor Tom Harney