Travel Pass Postcode Lottery
09 June 2011 by Paul RhoadesStudent travel passes have been reduced from £185 to just £30 a year by new conservative regime at North Lincolnshire Council.
Background
Students in Post 16 education have in the past received a discounted travel pass from the local council to help them get to college. This is not only fundamental to post 16 education, but has the added benefits of encourage the use of public transport, and reduce the reliance on motorised transport for students.
The cost of this travel pass to the students last year was £185, which considering that a weekly mega-rider is £8.00, gives each student a significant discount in the use of local transport.. Its also interesting to note that these travel passes were for use to and from the college only, they were not a "drive round Scunthorpe at the tax payer's expense" kind of pass either.
Affordability
The problem with this scheme however was that the ticket had to be bought up front at the beginning of the academic year, so those poorer students who would not be able to find the up front annual cost would end up having to pay on a weekly basis anyway. Only recently has a monthly payment scheme become available for an extra £10 per year, providing that the student or parent has a bank account.
The important thing to remember however was that this bus pass was made available to every one studying in post 16 education and living in North Lincolnshire.
Under new rules, the council have introduced a "3 mile rule", meaning that any students living within a 3 mile radius
of the college will no longer be eligible for the new travel pass.
Any one familiar with the demographic of Scunthorpe will immediately realise that in a single swoop, the council have just removed subsidised public transport from some of the most needy areas.
Its difficult to try to depoliticise this move by the council and understand any rationale as to why they've decided to give such a heavy subsidy to students travelling to college from out of town, and to then put yet another hurdle in front of those who are worse off.
Do I think this will stop students going to college?
Of course not, both of the colleges in Scunthorpe achieve some of the best results in the country, and the reason for this is that young people in Scunthorpe understand the value of education, and that without it the town holds very little for them.
Do I think this is ideologically driven?
Probably, while its pure conjecture to suggest that the Tories have once again de
liberately targeted those in the town who are already poor, it's clear that saving middle class parents in the villages £150 a year is without doubt a "thank you" gift for voting them in at the election.
Do I think this is another badly thought out policy by the local council?
Without a doubt. We've been told that the changes will cost the tax payer in Scunthorpe £750,000 a year to implement. Where's this money going to come from? The Tories have announced an "Emergency Budget" on the 28th June where it is expected that announcements regarding the future of the Pods, Baths Hall, Riddings Pool, Lilacs, Scotter House, and 2,000 council jobs.
In this time of austerity is it really acceptable for a council to pursue a policy supporting middle class, middle income students, while putting hurdles in the way of those who are already struggling?
Photo credits: Hamst.
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Comments
No one's talking about Laziness here, the results from both colleges speak for them selves and are a testament to just how hard working student's in Scunthorpe are.
The simple fact of the matter is that the council have removed funding from areas where it was available before, and as a result (inadvertently or otherwise) have ended up costing the tax payer an extra £750,000 which the council does not have.
It's unclear from the Conservative budget put forward in February where this money will come from, and its concerning to imagine where it may be found when the emergency budget is revealed on the 28th June.
It is interesting to note that conservative councils in other regions have scrapped all forms of subsidised or free travel for students, using the saving to fund other services.
There's no mention in the article that reducing travel subsidies will cost an EXTRA £750,000, just that it will cost £750,000 per year. I would expect that the previous travel scheme cost more per year to implement, due to dealing with a (potentially) larger number of applicants, and greater subsidy costs.
If this is, as you say, an extra £750,000 per year, on top of what the current travelpass system costs, then it would indeed be farcical, and wholly incomprehensible.
Thoades
Like "always late" I see £750,000 per year is a huge amount. Any idea on what this figure is comprised of? I'd like to see more of the breakdown of these numbers if they're available anywhere?
Cheers mate
The exact figure provided by my source is that it will cost an extra £758,420 for the academic year 2011-2012 due to the reduction in the cost of the bus pass from £185 to £30.
So in short, its costing tax payer's more, and fewer people are receiving the benefit.
I have no break down of the figures
The issue has not been debated publicly, nor will it be, so if you want more details then I suggest you send in a Freedom of Information request, but make sure you understand what it may cost you, how long it may take and when and where you can and can't use the information.
Come to the budget meeting on the 28th Paul, and ask a question about it (needs to be handed in writing with your full contact details to democratic services, Pitwood house the Friday before). It looks like its shaping up to be an interesting night, as while there are only 2 meetings a year at which the public can ask questions due to the council changing the rules, there is no longer a guillotine on meeting lengths, or a limit on the number of public questions ;)
It's pretty standard left wing BS to suggest that everyone who lives outside a 3 mile radius of Scunthorpe is some sort of Middle class Tory voter is it not?.I'd expect such drama from a Mick Grant blog .This Looks a good idea but clearly creating an extra funding gap of £750k ,if true,is bonkers in the current climate.Sometimes more people can get a benefit at the cost of those most needing it not getting enough.3miles is a good marker I believe,but the actual reduction in cost is far too big,why not just halve it?
I personally don't see it as an attack on the people of Scunthorpe,bare in mind this council makes decisions for the North Lincs .This isn't Scunthorpe VS the villages.
Quick update, here's a quote about the changes taken directly from the council's web site a few minutes ago:
Cllr Rob Waltham, cabinet member for Adult and Children’s Services at North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“We pledged to cut the cost of student travel and make it fairer for everyone.
“Students living in rural areas were hit especially hard by the higher cost of travelling to and from college.
“Cutting the cost will make it much easier on them and their families when they start college in September.
“At a time when many young people are finding it difficult to find work we must do all we can to help them.”
Now I'm not 100% with what Cllr Waltham is saying here, as he says "Students living in rural areas were hit especially hard by the higher cost of travelling to and from college."How can that statement hold water when the price of the bus pass was the same for all students regardless of where they live?
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I dont think it's unreasonable for people within a certain distance to have to walk to college - the taxpayer shouldn't have to pay to support students laziness. I would of prefered it to be a 2 mile radius however, keeping travel time under half an hour.
Also, not everyone in the surrounding villages is middle class. There are plenty of families who just could not afford to send their children to college if not for free/subsidised travel.
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