Call to abolish yellow bus scheme met with shock

Conservative councillors reacted with shock following the last full meeting of Medway Council, after Labour councillors called for the yellow bus scheme to be scrapped.

The scheme, offering a dedicated and safe scheme of transport for school children living a reasonable distance from their school, was introduced in 2003 by the Conservatives on Medway Council.

Currently eight schools benefit from the yellow bus scheme.

However, at the full council meeting on 14 January, Labour councillors called for the scheme to be scrapped, weeks before the annual council budget meeting.

Medway’s Conservatives stressed that, whilst there is a ?8 million shortfall in the budget, efficiency savings are being worked at that won’t affect front-line services, including the yellow bus scheme.

Cllr Alan Jarrett, the Deputy Leader of Medway Council, said that “parents and students greatly value the yellow bus scheme that we have introduced and would be appalled by the mean spirited attempt of opposition Labour councillors to deprive students of this scheme.

“We have introduced a number of measures to assist Medway’s students, which includes expanding the half price bus fare scheme to 18 year olds. These are measures that Labour councillors have voted against time and time again when setting the budget.”