County councillor Guy McGregor.

Suffolk: County to look again at bus pass rules

By Paul Geater Thursday, September 27, 2012
3:17 PM

SUFFOLK’S cabinet is to look again at the decision to reduce the hours that older people and those with disabilities can use their free bus passes.

The county council’s scrutiny committee decided to refer the decision back to the cabinet after it heard there were concerns about the level of consultation before the decision was made.

Until April last year the concessionary fare scheme was administered by district and borough councils.

Although the government agreed to cover the cost of “off peak” bus travel – after 9.30am – the councils in Suffolk decided the passes could be used on all bus services.

However from April last year the county took over the administration of the passes and as part of its cost-cutting measures decided they should only be valid after 9.30am.

In July last year a motion was debated at full council calling for the limit for passes issued because of age to become valid from 9am and for those who were issued with a pass because of their disability the time restriction would be abolished altogether.

It was argued that many of those with disabilities could not drive and the abolition of free passes on early morning buses effectively barred them from the labour market.

There was a further debate at the county’s cabinet in July this year which backed the tighter restrictions, but the issue was referred back to the council’s scrutiny committee by Liberal Democrat councillors David Wood and Caroline Page because they were unhappy about the level of consultation.

Before the issue was debated at this week’s scrutiny meeting members of the public including Linda Hoggarth, who represents people with disabilities across Suffolk.

She said she represented groups which looked after issues facing 75,000 people – and they had not been consulted before the decisions had been taken.

Ms Page told the meeting that the argument about cost did not stack up because the county had budgeted £8.6 million for concessionary fares but had only spent £7.8 million. However county council transport spokesman Guy McGregor insisted this did not mean the money was available: “We budgeted for the worst case – if the weather had been good we would have needed to spend more.”

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9 comments

Does no-one else think that this is a luxury that was introduced by a Labour government to capture votes (that worked didn't it?) at a time when all they did was spend money with no thought of the consequences. Mind you this all started the year before the big bank crash, who could have seen that coming? As I understand it the council is doing what the government makes them do. 9.30 is the rule in most places now, why should Suffolk be different? I feel sorry for pensioners who get winter fuel allowances and other benefits, if a person is disabled can't they get mobility allowance? Surely that is what should be paying for their "mobility"? I feel more sorry for the people, thousands of us, out there working on low wages, often with no wage rise for many years and still having to pay to get to work every day. And no chance of a decent pension at the end of it. That's if you still have a job of course. I wouldn't give another penny towards this, 9.30 is just fine.

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Citizen

Tuesday, October 2, 2012
If the bus pass is to be of any use to disabled workers, it needs to start well before 9 am - most working people need to travel much earlier in order to be at work on time.

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Roger Baker

Friday, September 28, 2012
I wanted to email SCC regarding the politics of public bus passes but there is nowhere to make a comment, considering this statement on their public site. 'To help us use your money on delivering frontline services please try to complete your transaction via our website. A full list of all the transactions you can do online is available here. Public enquiries Suffolk County Council public enquiries: 08456 066 067 (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6:00pm, Saturdays 9:00am to 1:00pm) There are email listings available for direct services but nothing is in place for specific decision policy contact.

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sue douglas

Friday, September 28, 2012
It proves that decisions made for us and about us are being made by well paid, mobile, car driving individuals. People who have no idea of the complications facing those with disabilities except on paper. Older people also work too at part time jobs, usually, on low wages to supplement their pension in order to pay bills. Why suddenly and randomly discriminate? You cannot have one rule to encourage everyone to work, what ever and for longer, to be denied the opportunity through lack of travel incentives where there are no other options. And don't forget that County Council and local councils have free parking as an incentive.

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sue douglas

Friday, September 28, 2012
I think there is an answer to this issue... All 'free Passes' to carry a 'yearly surcharge of let's say...£20...like we have for 'The trains, the National Express Coach'.. this would create the 'money to support the transport Network' and 'it would protect the FREE PASS from 'CUTTY CAM & CLEGG TEAM'!

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csiuk2007

Thursday, September 27, 2012
I think it is difficult for those on full salaries, or nationallocal government very adequate pensions, to understand how much the many other older retired folk really do appreciate their bus passes. It gets us out!

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Roberta

Thursday, September 27, 2012
The 9.30 start just means pass holders wait for the first bus meaning buses between commuter rush and 9.30 run almost empty. I have seen passengers wait for the next bus if a bus arrives before 9.30. I am a bus pass holder and do happily pay if I travel before 9.30.

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jennifer jane

Thursday, September 27, 2012
I'm sure people in my local village would have appreciated this, were it not for the fact that our bus service was cancelled by this self same county councillor less than four weeks ago.

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Origami Penguin

Thursday, September 27, 2012
People who have Elderly concession passes work too, most have no choice but to if they wish to live a reasonable life, so why should they be left out of the equation if times are to be adjusted. Personally I think the times are right now, in line with the rest of the country and it does mean that only those that really need to be out and about are vying for space on the bus with school children trying to get to school on time. Leave it alone now it has been changed, don't keep messing with it, you only confuse people and very few actually mind. We might then be able to afford other things for the community.

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Irene Wragg

Thursday, September 27, 2012

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