England launches free bus passes for under‑16s and cash‑free parking in Cornwall

From 1 August, children under 16 in England will travel on local buses free of charge under the government’s Great British Summer Savings Scheme. The change was announced by Labour transport secretary Heidi Alexander and is backed by the outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The scheme aims to ease cost‑of‑living pressures for families and encourage use of public transport during the summer.

Also from 1 August, Cornwall Council will cease accepting cash payments in the majority of its council‑run car parks. Card, contactless and mobile‑phone payments will remain, while cash will be accepted only in 43 car parks across the county. The council expects the shift to save about £80,000 a year and redirect the saved funds to car‑park and highway maintenance. Council transport cabinet member Dan Rogerson highlighted the cost of handling cash and the benefit of the new system.