Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency has announced progress in her long-running campaign to abolish Labour's fees for transport for post-16 education.
The Candidate, who has campaigned on this issue since former Labour county councillors demanded a huge £600 travel bill for each student back in 2014 said:
"The Labour administration at Northumberland County Council, introduced extortionate fees to the transport our teenagers rely on to access education provision across the county. This annual, lump-sum fee, in many cases up to £600, is a huge burden for families. I am delighted that the new Conservative administration at the Council backs my longstanding campaign to abolish that fee.
"This financial year's budget has already been set, but I have been working with the new Council to see if they can introduce monthly payments from September this year to ease the pressures on family budgets, with a view to abolishing Labour's teenage tax altogether as soon as possible. I am calling on councillors to use council vehicles as advertising space for local businesses, profits from which would go towards helping scrap this regressive teenage tax."
Mrs Trevelyan said this was the first issue she raised with new Conservative Council leader, Peter Jackson in a recent meeting.
Coun Jackson said: "Anne-Marie has campaigned for a long time on this issue, and believes passionately on relieving this burden on families, imposed by the previous Labour administration. My administration looks forward to working with her to ensure this issue is addressed, and to ensure that north Northumberland - which was ignored by Labour - receives the attention it deserves. Anne-Marie has been a doughty champion of her north Northumberland constituents as the MP, and I hope she is re-elected so local people will have a representative with both the Government's ear, and the Council's."