The bus pass scheme, how good is it now ?

ivan burit · The bus pass scheme, how good is it now ?

Essex | Archive | 2008 | April | 1 Search:
Tendring: New bus pass scheme enjoys successful start
From the archive, first published Tuesday 1st Apr 2008.

The transition to the new bus pass scheme has gone smoothly in Tendring.

Around 30,000 people in the district who are over 60 or have certain disabilities are eligible for the free passes, which came into force today.

Some parts of Essex, including Colchester and Chelmsford, experienced difficulties in distributing the tickets, with many residents having to use their old passes before the new ones arrive.

But no such problems were reported in Tendring, according to the district council and the area's pensioners' action group, Tenpag.

Council communications manager, Nigel Brown, stressed that if anyone had found themselves without a new pass, they would be able to use their expired ticket for a further month throughout Essex.

He added: "People should be aware that if they have moved they need to contact the council so we can make sure the pass goes to the correct address."

Some complaints have been made about the Government's changes to the scheme.

Eileen Murphy, 72, of Jaywick Lane in Jaywick, said: "They tell you that you can travel throughout England but how are you going to get there?

"I've got a sister in Birkenhead, in Merseyside.

"How am I going to visit her on my free bus pass only using local buses?

"It's not really an advantage."

She added: "If Londoners can use theirs on the tube, why can't we use them on national trains?

"It should be the same rules for everyone around the country."

Meanwhile, another pensioner has complained that his free pass comes with a condition he cannot use it before 9.30am.

Thomas Fanning enjoys regular trips to Sudbury in Suffolk.

The pensioner from Mountview Road, Clacton, says he will not be able to get to the market town until midday under new rules.

"I don't understand why they've done it," he said.

"If Suffolk travellers can us their bus passes at 9am, why can't we in Essex? It's grossly unfair.

"If one council can do it, why can't another? We are living in the Dark Ages here.

"It will be lunchtime by the time I get anywhere.

"The Government would have been better to leave the system the way it was."

Mr Fanning says he cannot get the 9.07am from Clacton to Colchester to reach the 10.50am connecting service to Sudbury.

Under the new rules, we will not be able to leave Colchester until 11.50am.

Maldon District Council is keeping the 9am start saying the high number of rural residents meant the earlier start would "be of enormous benefit."

Braintree, Tendring, Colchester and Chelmsford councils have all moved the start time forward to 9.30am.

Nigel Brown, Tendring Council's communications manager, said the council had made its decision on the concessionary bus passes being valid from 9.30am in line with the standard Government scheme.

"It is also the same time as most of the other local authorities in Essex and therefore we are being consistent," he added.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker this week described the Government's handling of the concessionary bus fare scheme as catastrophic. He said the settlement is so tight that councils are cutting back the service to pay for it.

A Department for Transport spokesman said the £212m allocated to councils is an excellent and well-funded scheme.

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When i re - read this story i had to smile at this comment:-

"Eileen Murphy, 72, of Jaywick Lane in Jaywick, said: "They tell you that you can travel throughout England but how are you going to get there? "

As this like me, a vocal local resident once said,

"i`d rather go to prison, than pay for a parish council"

Oh well, she can now use her bus pass to return home at least... Laughing