Southend Young People celebrate bus victory

Southend Youth Mayor, Adam Connolly and his Deputy, Alex Bright spearheaded a successful campaign to persuade the town’s main bus operator, Arriva, to make these changes.

Adam Connolly and Alex Bright wanted Arriva to raise the adult charging age in the Borough to at least 16.

Under-16’s were charged a concessionary children’s fare across the whole of Arriva’s Southern Counties operating range - except Southend.

But youngsters in the Borough had to pay start paying adult fares when they turned 14.

The Child fares were only available to 14 and 15-year-olds in the town if they paid £5 for a special Fairsaver Card.

Southend Youth Council thought this was unfair and launched their campaign in April asking for Arriva to increase the child age.

An Arriva representative had previously advised the Youth Council to start a petition to generate further support for the campaign.

Youth Council members encouraged the town’s young people to sign the petition and a total of 1,533 names were collected.

The petition was formally presented at full Council meeting in August by Councillor Ian Gilbert, the Council’s Youth Champion, and Councillor Mark Flewitt, the Executive Councillor for Transport and Planning.

The Council has fully supported the campaign and has also been in discussions with the bus company.

Arriva has just announced it will be easier for children to get child-rate tickets on its buses in the Southend, Rochford and Castle Point area from Wednesday 1st September.

From that date those aged 14 or 15 will be able to buy child-rate single, return and period tickets by showing the driver any recognised form of identity and proof of age such as the Essex County Council Bite Card or a Citizencard.

This will also apply to 16 year olds until the end of Year 11. Children aged 11, 12 or 13 will no longer need to show proof of age when buying child-rate tickets unless they look older than 13, in which case Arriva recommends that they buy a Faresaver Card which will be valid until they reach the end of Year 11, in order to avoid any discrepancy when buying their ticket.

Southend Youth Mayor Adam Connolly said: “This is excellent news. We gained terrific support from young people in the town, as well as from the Council, making this a victory for everyone.

”It just shows what can be achieved when people work together.”

Arriva’s Publicity Manager, Richard Lewis, said “I am pleased that we have been able to relax our rules regarding children’s fares, following suggestions from our customers.”

Southend Youth Council is open to all 13-19 year olds who go to school or live in Southend.

Meetings take place in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre between 5pm and 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month. For more information please contact Lucy Bissell 01702-298495 or 07818-002838.