Lib Dems Slam Pensioner Travel Restrictions

A decision by Bedford's Mayor Frank Branston to restrict pensioners and people with disabilities to off peak only travel along with limiting bus pass use to borough areas has been challenged by Lib Dems.

At present the council operates a concessionary fare scheme with a flat fee of 40p for bus travel anytime and across the boundaries within Bedfordshire and further a field. From April 2006 all councils are required to fund free bus travel for pensioners and people with disabilities. However the new scheme is set to introduce restrictions to off peak only travel within the borough. This ignores the findings of a recent Scrutiny review which showed that introducing such restrictions would be of no significant financial benefit to the council.

The Lib Dems are worried the restrictions will mean many pensioners will now be unable to use their passes to make essential trips including GP and hospital visits.

Speaking on the issue, Lib Dem Deputy Leader, Christine McHugh said:

"I am very concerned about these restrictions. It can't be right for the Mayor to introduce measures to make pensioners journeys unnecessarily restrictive. Instead of using the extra resources just to remove the 40p fare the Mayor is trying to sneak through cuts in the service available for pensioners at the same time. He tried to impose cuts last year and now he is trying again this year. Many pensioners have to use the buses for essential journeys before 9:30. Those that are given doctors and hospital appointments before 10:00 will be worst hit.

We have challenged the Mayor to rethink his plans before the final decision is made on the 1st December. What is needed is a scheme that enables more pensioners to get about without the need for harmful restrictions."

Decision 303: Concessionary Fares has been called-in by the Liberal Democrats and will now be discussed at a special scrutiny committee meeting to be on November 28th.

ENDS