Today Sir Geoffrey Cox and I met with the Managing Director of Stagecoach South West, Peter Knight to address the impact of recent service changes on schoolchildren in our constituencies. It was a really constructive meeting which allowed us to raise the wide range of parents' concerns.
Mr Knight has gone away to look at placing 16 to 18 year olds on the same ticket deal as under 16s as well as providing an option to purchase hard copies of tickets so smart phones are not necessary for schoolchildren. He is also considering rezoning fares and recreating a middle zone which would include Horrabridge, Yelverton and the surrounding villages, hopefully bringing more affordable bus fares for schoolchildren travelling from outside of Plymouth into schools in the city centre.
Whilst we don't yet have firm solutions to anything at this stage—and I'm aware that time is ticking—Sir Geoffrey and I will keep fighting on the solutions mentioned above and the issues still to be covered. In light of this, we are urging Devon County Council to step in where services have been deemed commercially unviable and have requested a meeting next week.
Please keep emailing me with any issues you would like me to raise with Stagecoach - [email protected]
