Local councils delay issue of new bus passes

Hundreds of thousands of pensioners in England have yet to receive their new bus pass, despite the introduction on April 1 of the new free national bus travel scheme. The delay has led to accusations of confusion and incompetence amongst a number of local authorities, but the NPC is calling on all bus operators to honour the old passes until the new ones come into force, to ensure that all pensioners - wherever they live - are entitled to the new concession.

But whilst the new scheme is a welcome step towards the NPC’s demand of free nationwide travel on all forms of public transport, it does not yet include metros/trains and trams, travel before 9.30am or community transport schemes such as dial-a-ride. Most notably, the scheme also does not extend to other parts of the UK. Many local authorities have complained that a lack of funding for the new concession from central government will force them to cut other services or raise council tax. But much of the problem lies with the bus companies overcharging them for pensioner travel.

The government must ensure that the scheme is properly funded and regulated so that the real benefits of free travel can be enjoyed by all pensioners right across the country, and the delay in issuing bus passes in some areas gives even more strength to the argument that we should have a national scheme administered centrally.