Move to protect free bus travel for elderly and disabled Doncaster people welcomed

Free off-peak bus travel for thousands of disabled and older people across Doncater will be protected for the foreseeable future thanks to a change in the law.
Buses.Buses.
Buses.

Bus passengers aged over 65 or with a disability have been entitled to travel free of charge on any off-peak local service in England since 2007, thanks to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme.

READ MORE: Sheffield police probe continues into attack on man left with life altering injuriesHowever legislation states that the scheme has to be reviewed every five years, meaning there is always a chance it could be withdrawn.

Tony Nuttall.Tony Nuttall.
Tony Nuttall.
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The Government has now taken the step of removing this requirement, meaning the scheme can be enjoyed without the periodical concern of it being taken away.

The move has been given a cautious welcome from the South Yorkshire Freedom Riders group, which lobbies for better public transport for elderly and disabled residents.

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"Free bus travel is important for elderly and disabled people to help them to get out and about. It is also good for their physical and mental well-being."

Tony Nuttall.Tony Nuttall.
Tony Nuttall.

But he also said we should not forget how Government-imposed funding cuts have hit the region in recent years.

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South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive had to make £8.5 million worth of cuts to their 2016/17 budget.

READ MORE: Police probe launched after woman is filmed spitting at and racially abusing takeaway worker in SheffieldMr Nuttall added: "In a wider sense, if the Government really wants to help people they should look at reversing years of cuts to local transport services."

Buses Minister Nusrat Ghani said: “The legislation underpinning our important bus pass scheme is now set for the future, meaning this group (elderly and disabled people) will be able to access their local services and amenities.”

Francesca Di Giorgio, inclusion policy manager at the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: "We are really pleased that the concessionary bus pass scheme will continue to run, guaranteeing free off-peak bus travel for people registered blind and partially sighted."