Canterbury Mum Slams Kent County Council For The ‘unfair’ Bus Pass System Leaving Parents Out Of Pocket

A frustrated mum has criticised Kent County Council for forcing parents to pay bus fares while waiting for replacement travel passes, arguing the system is unfair and outdated.

Charlene Hawkes, from Canterbury, forks out a staggering £1,730 a year on KCC Travel Savers for her three teenage sons – Joe, 16, Toby, 15, and Isaac, 13 – who all attend the city’s St Anselm’s Catholic School.

Charlene Hawkes spends a staggering £1,730 each year on bus passes for her sons – Joe, 16, Toby, 15, and Isaac, 13. Picture: Charlene Hawkes

But with the boys – like many youngsters – prone to losing them, she is not only forced to pay £10 for a replacement each time, but also £60 in bus fares while waiting for a new pass to arrive.

She argues KCC should follow the lead of other authorities and use an app or online system to make it easy for children to prove they have a pass, or send out an email showing one has already been paid for.

“It’s not the £10 charge that bothers me – it’s the fact that I’ve already paid for the travel pass, and yet I’m forced to pay again while waiting for a replacement,” the teaching assistant said.

“That adds up to £60 per child every time one is lost.

“I know children lose things – that’s inevitable.

Charlene Hawkes says she is left out of pocket whenever a bus pass is lost, having to pay £6 a day – in addition to £1,730 a year – while waiting for a replacement to arrive. Picture: Charlene Hawkes

“But there should be a temporary solution, whether it’s a digital version of the pass or an emailed copy parents can print out.

“It’s wrong that we have to keep paying extra.”

The 44-year-old added that her sons find it stressful when they lose their passes, knowing they may not be allowed on the bus if they do not have cash.

A journey to and from school currently costs £6 a day.

“We can afford it, but we don’t want to,” said mum-of-four Mrs Hawkes, who has another son aged 10.

If paid over eight monthly installments, a KCC Travel Saver bus pass costs £560 a year and a KCC 16+ Travel Saver £610. Charlene Hawkes pays £216 a month for her three teenage sons

KCC has defended its policy, saying school children must pay if they cannot show they have a physical pass.

“If a child does not have their pass, they are unable to prove they have the Kent Travel Saver, so they must pay the bus fare,” a spokesperson said.

The authority added that the £10 fee for a replacement pass covers the cost of making and supplying it.

“We have looked into mobile apps, which produce an on-phone pass, however, these can be open to fraud and are not suitable, the spokesperson explained.

“In addition, by having a card, this approach allows for all children to have the same level of access, making it fair to all – not everyone has a smartphone.”

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