Bus Pass campaign wins all-party backing (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Bus Pass campaign wins all-party backing

July 22, 2005 5:00 AM

Free bus pass for pensioners moves one step closer

Swindon Liberal Democrats are today celebrating the success of their initiative for the Council to persuade the Government to fund pensioner bus passes in full. A debate at Full Council last night secured cross-party support from Conservatives and Labour councillors.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Cllr Stan Pajak (Eastcott ward) said:

"I am delighted that all three political groups on the Council supported my proposals to urge Chancellor Gordon Brown to fund free bus passes for people aged over 60.

As well as seeking government funding in full for bus passes, an amendment by the Conservatives sought to include free provision for disabled people, such as Swindon's own successful Dial-A-Ride transport.

Labour Councillors proposed an amendment to continue to give carers of disabled people access to free transport.

Both these amendments were agreed by all the councillors present.

Stan Pajak continued:

"The Government announced the provision of free bus passes in their pre-election budget, but as Council's plan local tax priorities for 2006/07 the government appear reluctant to announce how much money Councils would receive to fund the scheme.

"I wrote to Swindon's two Labour MPs about free bus passes and both wrote back saying they supported the Council's campaign. The next stage of this campaign is to hold the government to account in our bid for full funding of Bus Passes. "

In the 2004/05 budget, Swindon spent nearly £870,000 on concessionary travel in total. Council officers have estimated next years budget would need to rise to £900,000 to fund the scheme.

The full text approved at Council reads:

Swindon Borough Council welcomes the introduction of free bus travel for people aged 60 and over after 9:30am on weekdays and all day at weekends.

Swindon Borough Council urges the Government to extend the scheme to accommodate people over 60 who are registered disabled and unable to use the bus service, so that they too can have access to free travel within their local community.

This council also agrees to continue using its discretionary powers in relation to concessionary travel on local public transport, to ensure carers travelling with disabled people from April 2006 are still able to access a concessionary fare after 9:30am on weekdays and all day at weekends in order to match the new free travel times for disabled people.

This will ensure that this new benefit, offered to people whose ability to travel is dependent on having a carer with them, are not compromised.