by Tricia Jamieson

jamieson@thekmgroup.co.uk

A mother is urging people to sign an online petition asking for the age limit of the Kent Freedom Pass to be extended.

The pass gives 11 to 16-year-olds unlimited travel on buses across the county.

A petition has been started on Kent County Council’s website asking for it to be extended to cover those aged up to 20.

Mum-of-one Carol Stevens says parents may not realise how much they may have to pay in bus fares once their children are over 16, especially if they have to pay for school travel.

The government is raising the age for staying in full-time education or training to 17 by 2013 and 18 by 2015.

Carol, who lives in Elham and has a 13-year-old son Sam, said: “This is not just about travel to and from school but about the extra things children want to do in evenings and at weekends.

“People are not thinking what happens beyond 16.

“With the cost of petrol, parents will not be prepared to run their children here and there.

“Young people want to be independent.”

Carol said she had spoken to one mother who was paying around £1,000 a year in bus fares for her two children to travel between their home in Elham and Canterbury.

The annual cost of the Freedom Pass goes up from £50 to £100 in September, despite opposition from parents.

The petition on the KCC website has attracted more than 6,000 signatures but needs to get to 12,000 by the closing date of July 7 for the council to consider it.

“People need to be aware of this,” added Carol. “If the age limit of the pass is not raised it will mean more vehicles on the roads so there is an environmental effect as well.”

She has emailed schools across east Kent asking them to make parents aware of the petition.

There are currently 26,300 Freedom Pass holders in the county.

KCC says if the petition gathers 12,000 signatures it will be considered by the county council.

To find the petition go towww.kent.gov.ukand click on e-petitions.