Disappointment as Â£2 Hastings child bus offer ends

Rresidents deliver their letter calling for Stagecoach to keep its Â£2 child ticket offer to its depot in St Leonards last month. Photo courtesy of Fares Fair for Children

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Parents calling for a temporary bus ticket offer for children in Hastings to be made permanent were left disappointed after the promotion ended.

Campaign group Fair Fares for Children (FFC) wanted Stagecoach to keep its £2 dayrider ticket for under-19s which expired on Sunday (April 10).

The bus company announced a new dayrider U19 ticket for £2.50 on Monday (April 11) but the campaigners are not satisfied.

FFC spokesman Anthony Bradnum welcomed Stagecoach’s recognition that child fares should go up to 18-year-olds but the 50p hike is still not affordable.

“Stagecoach’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy says that ‘to make public transport accessible to all, it has to be affordable’,” he said.

“We say that this ticket is not affordable, and urge Stagecoach to introduce child fares which recognise the extremely difficult financial situation which many families currently find themselves in.”

The £2 promotion was introduced in January and proved so popular it was extended until after the Easter holidays.

Ordinarily it costs £2.70 for a child day return which is only available for under-16s and FFC claims families cannot afford term or yearly passes, which would save money, as the up-front cost is too much.