Disabled and OAPs hit under fare cost cutting plan (From Blackpool Citizen)

Disabled and OAPs hit under fare cost cutting plan

2:33pm Wednesday 2nd January 2008

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Major cuts in free travel for pensioners are being looked at in Wyre in a bid to save more than £200,000 from the spiralling cost of the scheme.

Wyre Borough Council is to examine cutting the non-statutory elements of the scheme, which benefits the over 60s in the borough.

Last year, the Government promised pensioners and disabled people in England are to get free off-peak bus travel anywhere in the country from April 1.

At the moment, pensioners and disabled people are only entitled to free bus travel within their local authority area.

The proposals would withdraw Blackpool trams from the scheme, thus making Wyre residents pay full fare for all tram journeys.

The trams are not included in the national statutory scheme.

If this proposal was approved it would lead to an annual saving of £110,000.

Other cuts being discussed will be providing minimum concessions at peak times, for example before 9.30am Monday to Friday, saving £40,000 by making pass holders pay full fare on any bus journey, even those operating fully in Wyre.

Withdrawing support for community transport such as pre-booked Dial-a-Bus type services would produce savings of around £35,000.

Finally, excluding the Knott End Ferry from the scheme would save the council around £30,000.

Council leader Russell Forsyth, who produced the report outlining the plans, said: "The concessionary transport has been hugely successful, but with that success has come an additional burden of expenditure which the council needs to consider as part of its budget.

"We must decide whether the council should continue to fund elements of the scheme which are outside the statutory requirements."

Recently announced funding from central government for 2008/2009 has granted £323,000 for the scheme, with the real costs to the borough expected to be £426,000 for the same period.

The proposals will be discussed at a meeting of the council cabinet on Monday, January 7.

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