Bus passengers across Maidstone and Malling could lose vital services, if a 50 per cent fare hike goes ahead, their MP Helen Grant has warned.
Under plans announced by the Labour Government, the current bus fare pricing cap of £2 will rise to £3 when it ends on December 31.
And the increase is likely to be felt sharply by the most vulnerable in society and have a negative impact on both young and old passengers.
But Conservative MP for Maidstone and Malling, Helen Grant, says the increase in prices could see drop in passenger numbers an ultimately a reduction in services.
She wants Transport Secretary Louise Haigh to abandon the plan to raise fares to protect bus users across Maidstone and Malling.
“Labour might argue the fare increase is just a pound, but the cumulative effect here and across the country could be a disaster,” Helen Grant said.
“As fares go up, it is likely passenger numbers will go down and ultimately bus companies may be faced with stopping vital routes and ending essential services.
“The impact of the increases will be felt right across the board from young people using buses to access education, to workers and older people who have the bus as their only source of transport to go to appointments, go shopping or visit family and friends.
“The cost to people could work out to be hundreds of pounds a year to regular users, let alone the environmental impact of discouraging sustainable travel as people turn back to cars.
“But there is still time for the Transport Secretary to change this decision and I urge her to do so,” she added.
