LOCAL pensioners have voiced their concerns about proposed changes to bus services that will mean they are restricted on times they can travel.
Currently pensioners who are in receipt of a bus pass are able to use it on most buses at any time of day. However, Wiltshire Council has announced plans to restrict the use of the bus passes to either after 9.00am or after 9.30am – a decision which local pensioners feel will severely impact their quality of life and restrict a “vital lifeline” for many.
Council chiefs are making the decision to restrict the service which benefits 86,000 pensioners and disabled people countywide as they say they can’t afford the £4.6million bill for their free bus passes, and that everyone should have to pay to travel in the mornings from now on.
The change is likely to be brought in from April 2015 and Wiltshire Council is currently carrying out a consultation on what time the restricted travel should start from. The council is suggesting restricting the bus passes to either only after 9.00am, which could save up to £133,000 a year, or to after 9.30am, which might save £300,000. The changes to the service whether it be from 9.00am or 9.30am will have a major impact on people’s lives according to two users of the Wiltshire bus pass. Peter Incledon said, “I think it is a huge mistake to not allow pensioners and disabled people to use the bus when they like. I use the bus almost every day and I know that using at that time in the morning is vital for many people who need to make doctors or hospital appointments.
“For many pensioners taking their grandchildren to school would become an issue too and I don’t see the benefit.”
Chris Duignan another local regular user of buses agreed. He said, “The bus network is vital for many people in Wiltshire. The county is so vast and rural that having use of a bus is so important. If the service is restricted, I know many pensioners will become secluded and it will affect them massively.
“I use busses early in the morning and it is not like they are busy, so I don’t see the issue with letting pensioners and disabled people use them.”
John Thomson, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport said, “We will continue to fund free travel for the elderly and disabled but we want people to tell us when they use the free transport and what options would work best for them, so we can make savings while ensuring people can enjoy the free travel and go about their business.”
Wiltshire Council has also highlighted that most neighbouring authorities from Dorset to Bath say free passes can only be used after the morning rush hour commute is over.
Any changes would not come into effect until the new financial year. The consultation is available at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/consultations.htm and will run until Friday 26th September.
