Royal Borough transport lead welcomes idea of free bus passes for under 22s

The Royal Borough’s cabinet lead for transport has welcomed the idea of free bus passes for under 22s, but says Government funding is needed to deliver the scheme.

A new report by the Government’s Transport Committee has called for the Department for Transport’s (DfT) to consider piloting a free bus pass scheme for those aged under 22.

The committee said high fares and limited services ‘make it harder to reach college, training, entry-level jobs or shift-based work’.

Councils across the country have the power to offer concessions on buses.

Cllr Geoff Hill (Ind, Oldfield), cabinet member for transport at the Royal Borough, said the scheme is a ‘very, very good idea’, but raised questions over who would pay for it.

“Number one, I don’t know how it’s going to be funded,” he said.

“But the other side of it, I think it’s a good idea to get people who potentially are on lower paid incomes around so that they can actually engage in active employment, rather than not having enough money to travel.”

Cllr Hill said there has been a small drop in bus usage in the borough and added he would hope to see an uptake in use if the scheme were to be implemented, but said this was not guaranteed.

He said the scheme would be ‘one of those very nice to haves’ but not something the council could fund.

The Transport Committee’s report said the short-term nature of funding for bus services has ‘hampered local authorities’ ability to improve services’, adding buses require a similar commitment to the five-year settlement provided to other transport sectors such as rail.

Cllr Hill added: “We desperately need three to five-year settlements from Government across the board really.

“It was notorious that you’d either get one or two-year settlements and it’s not really enough.

“You can’t do anything innovative – you need three to five-year [settlements].

Maidenhead MP Josh Reynolds said the proposal was a ‘fantastic idea’.

He believes the scheme would help to boost bus usage in the borough, and said the Government ‘should look at seeing how it could be implemented’.

Mr Reynolds also called on the Government to provide longer-term funding settlements.

He added: “You can’t have a situation where the government will fund bus route grants for two years and then not in the future. The government have got to support local authorities [in] delivering the services that the government wants them to deliver.”

Windsor MP Jack Rankin said: “Windsor needs reliable and well-connected bus services, but we have to be honest – there is no such thing as a free bus pass.

He added the Royal Borough is ‘under huge financial pressure’ and taxpayers ‘simply cannot afford to take on another unfunded pledge’.

“The priority must be safeguarding existing routes and making them more attractive, with practical improvements,” he said.

A DfT spokesperson said: “After decades of decline, we’re providing a record £1billion in multi-year funding to improve the reliability and frequency of bus services across the country. Our landmark Bus Services Bill will protect routes and prevent services from being scrapped.

“We have also stepped in to prevent a fare hike for passengers by extending the £3 fare cap until March 2027.

“Better buses are central to the Government’s Plan for Change— connecting communities, strengthening the local economy, and boosting access to jobs.”