GREEN campaigners are calling for bus travel to be made free for the under 30s in a bid to tackle climate change.

Oxford Friends of the Earth say the move would help limit the damaging aspects of traffic pollution in the city by encouraging greater use public transport.

Campaigner Chris Church said: “It’s an idea whose time has well and truly arrived.

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“We already have free bus travel for the over 65s - free bus travel for the under 30’s would help make real cuts in congestion, pollution, damaging greenhouse gas emissions.”

Oxford Mail:

The calls coincide with new research by Friends of the Earth which suggests transport was the largest source of climate-changing greenhouse gases in the UK last year.

Last week Oxford City City Council backed a motion to declare a ‘climate emergency’ in the city due to the high levels of pollution, while also opposing the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway proposals.

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Mr Church added: “It would cost around £3 billion a year but this is a fraction of the money spent on roads. The proposed Expressway is already estimated at over £4billlion.

“Unfortunately we are going in the wrong direction with bus fares rising 75 per cent over the last 15 years, and over 3,300 services reduced or removed since 2010 in England and Wales. It’s time for a change.”