Following a presentation to the county council meeting last Thursday (21 July), three pilot schemes will be introduced this September and these will run in tandem with a public consultation on a permanent concessionary bus travel pass for Kent’s post-16 students.

Jamie Potten and Melanie Sparkes started an e-petition about student transport and spoke at last week’s meeting. Both have been invited to join members of Kent Youth County Council to represent the views of young people. The youth county council’s transport sub-committee has already been working with KCC Members on the concession scheme. Alice Stretch and Samuel Watkin spoke about their involvement at the county council meeting.

Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills, Sarah Hohler, said:

“I was most impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm shown by Kent Youth County Council members Alice and Samuel and the lead petitioners Jamie and Melanie.

Early in September we will ask people of all ages for their input and views about the post-16 bus travel concession, what they would like it to be and how much they would be prepared to pay for it. At the same time we need to test the practicalities of the scheme and will introduce three pilots around the county.

“I am really pleased with the progress we have made to date and it is excellent that we are so close to seeing the ideas of Members and young people go from the drawing board to being tried and consulted on.”

Following the consultation and pilot schemes, a permanent, countywide post-16 travel concession is expected to be introduced in September 2012.