Simon Finlay

Nursen Smith, a low-income mother from near Swanscombe, has launched a petition urging Kent County Council to reduce schoolchildren's bus fares, extend the Kent Travel Saver's validity to evenings and weekends, and introduce a means-tested rate. The scheme's price has risen from £450 to £615 over four years, prompting concerns that it is unaffordable for families. Kent County Council says it invests more than £7m annually, that a 5% increase was needed to keep the scheme sustainable, and that 2026/27 prices cannot now be reversed because applications are open. The council also says a reduced-cost pass for lower-income families already exists.

A planned closure of the on-call fire station at Grain on the Hoo Peninsula has been halted after Kent Fire and Rescue Service removed it from a list of threatened part-time stations. The reversal follows correspondence from Medway Council’s chief executive, though its influence on the decision is unclear. Other proposed closures and reductions remain under consideration, and union leaders warn that up to 76 on‑call roles may be lost, keeping the possibility of industrial action open. KFRS maintains the proposals are driven by risk analysis and financial pressures, with a consultation expected following fire authority approval.

Opposition councillors in Kent criticised the county council’s cost‑cutting programme Dolge, calling it ineffective as the authority moves to overhaul the initiative. While Reform UK representatives claimed substantial savings in its first year, critics argued the scheme delivered no real financial benefit and should be abandoned. A revised strategy will retain the Dolge acronym but shift its focus to wider council‑wide efficiency efforts, including new collaboration structures and oversight mechanisms.