Lib Dem anger at Labour's Bus Pass fiasco (Southampton Liberal Democrats)

Southampton Liberal Democrats <info@southampton-libdems.org.uk>

Lib Dem anger at Labour's Bus Pass fiasco

April 18, 2006 1:56 PM

A bus from Winchester to Southampton - unknown to the Labour Government these things do happen

Southampton pensioners have now discovered that the Labour government's free bus scheme, hastily introduced just before the General Election, does not permit them to travel around Hampshire, when bus pass holders outside the city can. The government have now realised what a mess they've made of the scheme, and recently announced free travel across the country for pensioners and disabled people - but not until 2008! Cllr Jill Baston says, "Labour have treated pensioners disgracefully, misleading them with an unfair, unworkable bus pass scheme, AND they've taken away their £200 council tax allowance as well."

Before general election last year the big headlines from Labour were free bus travel and £200 council tax allowance for all pensioners. The problem as with many offers was in the small print.

On the free bus passes the small reads :-

free travel only within your district or unitary authority area.
free travel only after 9am.

On the £200 council tax allowance the small print reads :-

this is an election bribe only you will not get this next year.

Many district and unitary council have tried to increase the scheme as finances have permitted :-

In Southampton the area has been extended to include journeys to Moorgreen Hospital, Chartwell Green, Southampton Airport and Totton.
In Hampshire many of the District or Borough councils have combined to say any journeys which start or finish in the district are free, so for example Eastleigh pensioners can travel to Southampton or Winchester.
However in Conservative run Fareham their finances only allow the basic government scheme.

And basic questions still remain :-

Do many of the bus drivers understand all these differences ? NO
Do all of the pensioners understand all these differences ? NO
Would the scheme be better if Liberal Democrats had the say at a national level ? YES

In Scotland the Scottish Executive's concessionary fares scheme that provides free travel to those over sixty and the disabled started successfully in April in contrast to the Government's scheme in England. Under the scheme launched by Lib Dem Transport Minister Tavish Scott and the Lib Dem-Labour coalition in Scotland, those eligible are able to travel at any time across the whole of Scotland. Under the UK Government's scheme for England, travel is limited to off-peak times and is only allowed within the local area. It is believed that the Scottish scheme will have an enormous impact with 90% of those eligible already registered. According to a Lib Dem survey the English scheme for free bus fares for the over 60s and the disabled is causing massive problems for many local authorities.

On the English Scheme Lib Dem Shadow Transport secretary Alistair Carmichael MP says "Many areas are facing severe problems with the introduction of this 'free' service. Services are being cut or council tax increased because Gordon Brown has failed to fund his scheme adequately. The complicated system basically amounts to a postcode lottery."

STOP PRESS - The major bus companies have appealed to the Secretary of State against the free pass scheme currently being run in most Hampshire districts, as they believe that it's unworkable. They have stated that they regard Southampton's scheme as fair and reasonable.