29 September 2016
First Bus in Bath have recently announced their day pass for the University of Bath U1 route will be increasing by 25% for the new academic year.
Hot on the heels of what seems like confirmation from the government that tuition fees will be rising for current students from 2017, this is just another unexpected creeping cost with which students are being confronted, meaning this directly impacts an already financially insecure group of people. High levels of green belt land around the University means students must, and are prepared to, live a further distance from the ever-expanding university and commute in. Furthermore, as cars are neither feasible in those numbers nor affordable for most students, the bus service represents an essential means of transport and a hard-fought victory for students travelling up and down the hill each day.
This is of course not to mention the many local residents who rely on this bus service to get up and down Bathwick Hill, which is not an easy walk for the most active individuals. The service is overwhelmingly used by financial insecure young people and students, or by older local residents, none of whom should be facing the costs of an increasingly expensive bus service.
The Green Party in Bath has been campaigning for reduced air pollution through less car use across the centre of town, of which affordable bus fares are an essential aspect. Air pollution in Bath is reaching a crux point, and balanced with increased austerity these piece-meal responses from the council are arbitrary cuts that are only serving to hurt those in most need, rather than addressing the root cause of the problems.
Sally Williamson
B&NES Green Party Member
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