A GRADUATE believes young people in the town will be hit the hardest by the latest bus fare price hike.

As previously reported in the Warrington Guardian, Network Warrington increased their prices one year on from charges rising by up to 65 per cent.

Commuters across the town reacted angrily to the news but Cinnamon Brow resident Eleanor Webster says she is keen to speak on behalf of those who will 'bear the brunt of the price rise'.

The 22-year-old, who works in Golden Square after graduating from the University of Chester, said: "It's unfair to a lot of people and if you earn the adult minimum wage of £6.50 per hour, which I do, then the new cost of an Adult Day Rover at £5.95 will cost almost an hour's wage.

"This is much more expensive than day tickets for the Halton area at £3.80, Greater Manchester at £4.20 and an Arriva North West Day Saver at £5.20.

"If you are 20-years-old and earn the 18 to 21 minimum wage of £5.13 an hour, then you won't qualify for a student ticket and will likely have to work for over an hour to pay for your day ticket.

"And we won't benefit from George Osborne's new living wage either, as you have to be 25 to receive it."

The English language graduate, who has been saving to start on a journalism course, says weekly tickets are also no better as it is cheaper during a five-day working week to buy daily returns.

Eleanor added: "Surely the point of a weekly ticket should be to help travellers save money?

"I am well aware that commuters of all ages are suffering the effects of the price hike, but it seems that those of us between 20 and 25 are taking the biggest hit."

The Warrington Guardian has again asked for a comment from Network Warrington regarding the latest price hike.

But once again our requests have been ignored and managing director Damian Graham now appears to be on holiday for two weeks.

THE town's MPs have also had their say on the latest price hike. 

Warrington North MP Helen Jones said: "It is disappointing that the fare increase was implemented without explanation or justification. 

"The fare hike will come as an unwanted surprise for many low paid families. 

"I know that there are people working hard to ensure that the town does not lose its bus company but the financial pressures they face are extreme. 

"The Government has reduced Warrington’s transport funding over and over again – we receive far less per head than London and the South-East for example.

"As I said in this newspaper at the time of the last fare increase, if this government won’t address the long term problem and invest in public transport, the council, as sole shareholder, needs to insist that the board explore other sources of finance or we will plunge into an ever decreasing circle of fare increases and cuts to routes and services."

Warrington South MP David Mowat also questioned whether it is time for a change. 

He added: “I think most of my constituents would be prepared to pay a little extra if they felt that the service they were receiving was improving. 

"Sadly, for many, it is now harder to get a bus than it was three years ago.

"Warrington is one of the few towns in the country that still operates its own bus network. That begs the question – does everyone else do it the wrong way, or is it us?"