Liberal Democrats condemn proposed charges for eXplore Cards

11.49.25am GMT Fri 30th Nov 2007

Liberal Democrats on Suffolk County Council today condemned proposals to charge for all new and replacement eXplore cards.

The proposals would see a £10 fee for replacement cards and all new card users having to pay a £10 fee as of 2008. The Conservative Administration at the County admitted this could affect up to 12,500 young people across Suffolk.

The proposals were discussed at the Roads and Transport Scrutiny Committee and the committee recommended that further work be done to investigate the effect these proposals would have.

Discussing the proposals, Libdem Group Leader Cllr Kathy Pollard said, "We brought the eXplore card in to help young people move about and to get them used to using public transport. It simply beggars belief that an Administration which constantly claim to be aiming to become "the Greenest County" would seek to put forward these proposals.

They even admit that it could lead to a 20% drop in the number of young people using the scheme - hardly the best way to get young people into the habit of using public transport and help them get around.

This Administrations assault on public transport and those who use it continues apace."