WC bus pass cutbacks hit disabled

Wiltshire Council recently held a consultation on whether bus passes used by elderly and disabled people should be restricted to use after 9am or after 9.30am. The present situation, where they can be used at any time, was not an option.

The majority of people and organisations who responded wanted a 9am start, but WC has decided on a 9.30am cut-off. There may be some exceptions where buses start a journey just before 9.30.

Five thousand disabled and eighty-two thousand elderly people are affected.

The change is likely to hit disabled pass holders particularly hard, as they are twice as likely to use their passes. It would have been possible to split the scheme and continue to allow the disabled to travel free at any time, but the council says that because they use their passes more it's more expensive to allow them free travel, so the disabled will get no concessions.

The free travel period will end at 11pm, thou gh this is largely academic as very few buses in Wiltshire run at that time.

The changes are scheduled to start in April.

.....................................................

Cllr Ian West said to WC in his response to the consultation: "The time should be left as it is so that people can get to appointments etc. I have said YES to 9am because it is the least damaging. People should be allowed to use their bus passes as they do now ie on the first available bus out of their village in the morning as buses only run every hour at the best in rural areas your proposals are detrimental to the rural way of life. Some people would not be able to use their bus passes under your proposals probably till around 10-30am until in rural areas. The time should be left as it is for all bus pass users so that people can get to appointments etc. Your proposals will put tremendous pressure on rural Link schemes PLEASE THINK AGAIN."