Plans to axe free travel for under-18s in London have been opposed by Richmond Council.

Councillors this week passed a motion calling on the government to withdraw its plans to make Transport for London remove free travel for under-18s and change the times when older people can use their freedom passes during Covid-19 restrictions.

At a meeting on Tuesday, July 7, council leader Gareth Roberts said that the measures "will impact very hard on the oldest residents and our youngest residents in the borough."

He added that the responsibility for providing school travel over a certain distance will go back on to "cash-strapped" councils who cannot afford "the additional burden."

Last week, college leaders across the capital and the Association of Colleges, also called on the Transport Minister Grant Schapps to save the 16+ Oyster Card to "give young people the opportunity to get back on their feet after coronavirus".

They argue that the change risks "shutting out the most disadvantaged from moving around the city," as travel becomes a cost barrier for young people participating in education.

But Conservative councillor Gemma Curran said the Tories "will not support a motion which does not lay any accountability to the financial mismanagement of TfL at the feet of Labour mayor Sadiq Khan."

She added: "Make no mistake this extraordinary funding and financing from the government to TfL was made in order to keep vital public transport services running in London but also to ramp up services to support social distancing.

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"It was given on a day when Khan said TfL would run out of money, a day he put an ultimatum to the government in the middle of a pandemic."

She then accused Khan of throwing "cheap political shots" at the government.

"This loan is more than generous faced with such ineptitude," she added.

"We are proud this government took the necessary steps to protect this service, which our critical workers, such as NHS staff rely on."

Freedom pass and changes for under-18s

The Covid-19 pandemic has cut public transport numbers dramatically in the capital.

TfL said its takings from fares have fallen by 90. The government gave TfL £1.6 billion to cope with the losses.

As part of the funding package, TfL was told it can no longer give free peak-time travel to over 60s with freedom passes, and free travel for under-18s has been scrapped.

What the government says

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "The decision to suspend under-18 travel is a temporary measure to help tackle the spread of Covid-19 and reduce the risk of crowding on our transport network.

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"We will also be ensuring that the concession for children eligible under national legislation for free home to school travel will continue."