A PILOT scheme to allow 16 to 19-year-olds to also use their £1,000-a-year college bus passes in the evenings, at weekends, and during school holidays will not proceed due to cost pressures.

“Despite assurances that proposals would be prepared for the budget, we found out last week that the decision had been taken not to proceed with the project due to cost pressures at Herefordshire Council,” said Cllr Stef Simmons (Green).

“If we’re serious about tackling rural inequality and driving economic growth, we have to support young people to access employment, training, and social opportunities.

“However, a feasibility study to deliver this project to allow young people with college bus passes wider access to free public transport, will now be developed by officers.”

Her Green colleague Cllr Rebecca Tully added that a ‘well evaluated’ pilot scheme to extend use of the bus pass would have a positive impact now, with no impact on future years’ revenue budgets and pointed out that it would also have helped bring in funding in for other projects.

A-level student and Green campaigner Haydn Osborne-Brookes, who is rising in the world of politics is taking Herefordshire Council to task on various local issues and said after the project had not been included in the council’s budget: “As someone who uses a college bus pass to travel to Hereford Sixth Form College, I’m extremely disappointed about the council’s inaction here.

“We must ensure Herefordshire is a welcoming place for young people, particularly in terms of transport, or we risk losing them to big cities and more accessible places.”

He added that many young people don’t see a future here in Herefordshire because public transport is essential in making the county more welcoming for students, especially for those who can’t drive.