£1 Tiger bus pass staying, says new mayor

The new mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough says he plans to keep the Tiger bus pass.

The pass - used on over one million journeys - allows children and young people under the age of 25 to travel for £1 per journey.

Paul Bristow, who won the area's mayoral election for the Conservatives, made the promise in an interview with the BBC's Politics East programme.

He also said he would proceed with the bus franchising agreement signed by the previous mayor, Labour's Nik Johnson.

But he said he would not increase the council tax precept, which currently subsidises some bus services and fares.

The Tiger pass was one of the previous mayor's proudest achievements.

More than 40,000 people have applied for one.

Bristow says he also plans to "make bus franchising work" after the paperwork was signed in February.

Franchising will see bus services in the area brought under the control of the combined authority.

They will control routes and fares, with bus operators invited to run the services.

However buses are not his only plans for transport in Cambridgeshire. He also says duelling roads like the A10 and the A47 is among his top priorities.

He also wants to explore options for light rail.

"Cambridge is already congested," he said. "I think it is a solution that will get Cambridge and Peterborough moving."

Bristow has previously said he thinks a light rail service between Cambourne and Cambridge could be up and running before East-West rail.

BBC Politics East will be broadcast on Sunday 12 January at 10:00 GMT on BBC One in the East of England, and will be available after broadcast on BBC iPlayer.

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