Youth campaign for better buses (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Youth campaign for better buses in St Albans

8:50am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News By Chris Hewett

Budding young politicians in St Albans have begun a campaign for better bus services in the city and are planning to take their fight to the county council.

Members of the St Albans and District Liberal Youth claim young people are being left isolated by unreliable and infrequent public transport links.

The teenage Liberal Democrats have started a petition which they hope will put pressure on Hertfordshire Council, which is in charge of the county’s bus network, to address the issue at a public meeting.

Chairman of the group Nick Sutton, 17, said: “We have a population of under-18s that is very reliant on public transport. After speaking to people in the city it is clear the service is not sufficient.”

According to the activists, most young people would like to see better punctuality, later services and more routes.

The petition demands a direct bus route to Jarman Park in Hemel Hempstead, services to Redbourn on Sunday and for all services from the city centre to run until at least 10pm on weekends.

Verulam School student Nick said: “It seems a problem that would be pretty simple to set right and that is what we want to see.

“We appreciate councils have to think about where they are putting funding but other counties and cities seem to have got systems that are working well and if they can do it on a shoestring budget then why can’t Hertfordshire?”

The group’s petition must gather at least 100 signatures before it can be considered for discussion at one of the authority’s full council meetings.

To sign the petition visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/improve-local-bus-services-for-young-people.