Youth MP urges greater use of public transport

Katrina Mather, of Seaford Head Community College, said many students and schoolchildren were not aware of the various concessionary fares available to them.

The 14-year-old met with Councillor Peter Jones, Leader of East Sussex County Council, to urge him to increase awareness of the council's concessionary Freedom and Pathfinder bus tickets, which can more than halve young people's weekly bus fares.

Freedom and Pathfinder bus tickets provide pupils and students with unlimited bus travel on most routes within East Sussex.

Freedom tickets cost 11.50 a week and are for pupils under 16. Pathfinder tickets cost 9.50 a week and are for students in full-time further education aged 16-19.

Students who travel by train can take advantage of the Sussex Student Card is a scheme for students aged 16-19 living in East Sussex, West Sussex or Brighton & Hove who attend a sixth form or further education college. The card gives students one third off rail season tickets subject to a minimum period of one month and a minimum fare equivalent to 8 per week.

For more information on how to apply for Freedom and Pathfinder tickets, please visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roadsandtransport and follow the links for 'public transport' and 'concessionary travel schemes'.