Skip navigation

Regional Equality & Diversity Partnership


Font size and colour changer:
A A A [ · ] [ · ] [ · ] [ · ][ · ]

Extra 3 million pounds set to secure Leicestershire travel scheme

Summary: An extra 3 million pounds has been earmarked to secure older and disabled people's bus travel in Leicestershire over the next two years.

To make sure the statutory national concessionary travel scheme can run from April, the County Council is proposing to add to the government's grant, as the money received is significantly less than the cost of the current scheme.

The plan is included in a new report being discussed by the council's cabinet next week and suggests adding £1.3 million next year, increasing to £1.7 million the following year.

Feedback from almost 850 people who took part in a recent consultation also features in the report. Residents were asked to comment on extra elements which district councils currently choose to fund - these are on top of the existing statutory national scheme and are estimated to cost a further £500,000.

The responses show:

  • strong support for free travel for disabled people before 9.30am

  • half-fare travel before 9.30am for older concession holders is the least favoured

  • broad support for retaining the other three

Lesley Pendleton, County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: "We recognise that concessionary travel is important and are committed to providing a scheme in Leicestershire.

"In these difficult economic times, we need to plan ahead to make sure that this will not only meets pass holders' essential needs but is as cost-effective as possible.

"Reducing the impact of rural isolation and maintaining access to services for vulnerable groups is key and we need to look at what the consultation is telling us and use this to draw up a fair and consistent scheme."

The cabinet will consider the report, including the consultation feedback, at a meeting next Monday (14th February). This will feed into the final budget decision set to be made by the County Council on 23rd February.

Notes:

From April, funding for concessionary travel is moving from the district councils to the county council.

The national scheme isn't changing and will continue to entitle people to free travel between 9.30am and 11pm from Monday to Friday, and at all times at weekends and bank holidays.

The extra elements currently provided are:

  • half fare use of buses from Monday to Friday before 9.30am for older people

  • free bus travel for people with disabilities before 9.30am from Monday to Friday

  • half fare travel on community transport for older people and people with disabilities

  • half fare local rail travel for older people and free local rail travel for people with disabilities

  • vouchers for use on taxis and buses by people with disabilities and older people who cannot access a frequent local bus service

Concessionary travel passes are available to all residents of England who are 60 or over (a rise in eligibility age to 65 started to be phased in from last April), and to people with qualifying disabilities. The statutory free scheme allows for free travel between 9.30am and 11pm from Monday to Friday, and at all times at weekends and bank holidays.

Source: Leicestershire County Council

All pages in this section:
© 2010 REDP. Contact us: c/o LCIL, 2nd Floor, 5-9 Upper Brown Street, Leicester LE1 5TE Sitemap - Access keys