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Exciting new changes to the council's concessionary travel scheme will
mean that anyone over the age of 60 or disabled will be able to travel
for free on local buses from April next year.
The new scheme was agreed by the council's cabinet recently and replaces
a similar system offering elderly and disabled people half price travel
on local bus services. Applications for the new scheme will not be
available until February and will be publicised nearer the time of
introduction.
Councillor Jeremy Heron, portfolio holder for economy and planning
said: "In the New Forest we are traditionally much more generous than
the statutory minimum when it comes to concessionary travel for pensioners
and the disabled and this new scheme is no exception.
We are offering all-day free travel on bus journeys starting or finishing
within our area. Those who quality for these passes will be able
to take journeys into Southampton, Wiltshire or Dorset if they choose. The
scheme will also include the Hythe Ferry, which is a highly popular
route into the city of Southampton.
We have decided to continue with our wholly discretionary scheme of
replacing bus passes for travel tokens, with a few changes. This
scheme will now only be available to pensioners over the age of 60
in receipt of certain benefits or those who are disabled or have mobility
difficulties. We recognise the fact that this scheme is very
popular, particularly with those living in rural areas. Tokens
will be replaced with vouchers with the introduction of the scheme."
Details of the new schemes are as follows:
- All day free travel on local buses or the Hythe Ferry, starting
or finishing within the New Forest District Council boundary for
anyone over 60 years or disabled. This is beyond the national statutory
requirement to provide free off-peak travel within the district boundary
on local bus services.
- A means tested scheme which is wholly discretionary and only available
to those over 60 and in receipt of certain benefits or to people
of any age who are disabled. This scheme enables these residents
to cash in their free bus pass for £40 worth of travel vouchers,
for use on services such as WRVS Rural Transport, Dial-a-Ride services,
Luncheon Club mini-buses and taxis registered by the council. Those
over 80 years who are not in receipt of certain benefits will no
longer qualify for tokens.
Councillor Heron added: "This is a terrific new opportunity but I
want to urge people to hold on with applications at the present time. The
council will not be accepting applications until February but we are
currently in discussion with local bus companies and it is likely that
existing valid half fare passes will enable people to travel for free
for an initial period of time."
About 10,000 people currently hold a half price pass for the buses
but it is thought that up to 20,000 are eligible to apply. It
is anticipated that more people are likely to take advantage of the
new schemes, following the introduction of free travel on buses for
the over 60s. |
