News


School bus pass up £10


STUDENTS’ travel costs are set to rise, with news that the region’s Young Person’s Travel Pass is to go up by £10. The pass, on sale fromJune 4,will


cost £290 – the result of a general rise in bus fares, according to Kent County Council (KCC). The pass, which helps about


25,000 children, costs KCC £8.5mil- lion a year in subsidies. The county council’s cabinet


member for transportMikeWhiting said: “KCCdoes not have toprovide the pass, but we do so because we want to promote sustainable school travel. Parents have a choice to get the pass or pay the operator the bus fare direct, which in some cases could cost up to £740.” The passwas introduced by KCC


in 2014, offering subsidised travel for students fromMonday to Friday between 6amand 7pm, and also on Arriva and Stagecoach buses at the weekendandin the school holidays. Kent Youth County Council


Transport Committee chairs Kyle Siwek and Freddy Waters say the scheme is good value formoney. The cost of the pass for low-in- come familieswill remain at £100.


downsmail.co.uk


Ragwort could kill horses, owners told


HORSE owners are beingwarned of the deadly dangers of ragwort, which is about come into full bloomthis summer. Ingestion of the weed – either


alive or dead – by horses can result in fatal liver failure. According to the British Horse


Society (BHS), many owners are unaware of how dangerous rag- wort can be. Spokesman Gemma Stanford


said: “Our focus is centred onmak- ing horse owners and landowners aware of the dangers of ragwort and its impact on equinewelfare. “We still see many owners who


are unaware of the dangers of leav- ing horses grazing among ragwort, and this is where we are concen- trating our resources. “The BHS has a network ofmore


than 200 volunteerwelfare officers who provide advice, support and education about ragwort, so if you are concerned, please get in touch with us.” Maidstone-based Kent Wildlife


Trust says that ragwort can be found in all habitats in Kent and is present fromJune untilNovember. A spokesman said: “The daisy-


like, yellow flower heads of com- mon ragwort may be pretty enough to the casual observer, but they belie the poisonous nature of this plant. “Renowned as a weed of pad-


docks and pastures,where it can be harmful to livestock, it is not usu- ally such an issue in gardens or on waste grounds.” Common ragwort, which can


also be very hazardous to cattle, is one of five harmful plants specified in theWeedsAct 1959.


The primary responsibility for


weed control lieswith the occupier of the land concerned, but govern- ment department Defra can take action should there be a risk of it spreading to neighbouring land. Defra guidance states: “Ragwort


is a potential killer. It is important to ensure that, before animals are allowed to graze, ragwort plants are removed or have completely disappeared after using control techniques.” Ragwort, once removed, should


be burned. Naturalist Theo McCausland,


who lives near Langley, said: “Rag- wort is a favoured food of the cinnabar moth’s caterpillar, which totally strips its leaves off. “You’ll often see a farmer cutting


grass for hay, hop from the tractor and pull ragwort out by the roots if they find it. “Even dry, it can be fatal to live-


stock. In your garden, it is harmless enough and does have a purpose in the food chain.”


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