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Delight over the 24/7 bus pass u-turn
CAMPAIGNERS battling for the over 60s concessionary bus pass to be extended to the whole day, are celebrating after a U-turn by Lincolnshire councils offers a ticket to ride, 24-7, for free.
Hilary Fry of Binbrook, who we featured cutting up her old pass two months ago, said the move would make all the difference to her.
She had not applied for the new national pass that took effect in April - limited to journeys after 9.30am - feeling it was worthless to her as there were no busses out of Binbrook after 9.30am.
But she is now 'delighted' with universal free access to all buses and will be applying.
"I thank everyone who supported the campaign, whether they were affected or not. Without the Rasen Mail and many others highlighting the stupidity of the situation, I'm sure we wouldn't have succeeded," she said.
Up to April 1 eligible passengers with a pass could travel for free, at any time, within their council area. The national pass extended free travel across the UK, but limited its scope to after 9.30am, which created problems for those needing to get to work or early appointments and villages like Binbrook without later buses.
Many councils, including those covering Brigg and Grimsby, opted to subsidise travel 24 hours a day, but others, including East and West Lindsey didn't.
Now, after consideration of residents concerns, six Lincolnshire district councils, in conjunction with bus operators and with county council support, decided to bring back free all day travel.
The new deal still has to be formally approved by councils to take effect from July 1. Existing passes will still be accepted for early travel.
The U-turn is clearly based on pensioner pressure as officials at both local councils in April said they would not review it within six months and it was ' imprudent' to extend the scheme.
West Lindsey's new council leader Bernard Theobald, said it was an election promise 'to ensure the elderly and others entitled to the concessionary pass should not be left high and dry' by a system allowing free travel only after 9.30 am.
"In many cases in rural areas the passes were really of little benefit. This change does not mean much in the great scheme of things but it is a step in the right direction."
* Passes can still be applied for through any council customer service centre.
* Does the change mean much to you? Email your views to michael.steed@jpress.co.uk or text MRNEWS and your views to 81800 as explained on page 2.
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Weather for Market Rasen
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
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