BRIDGNORTH’S concessionary bus pass users could soon be able to travel for free at any time. Shropshire has taken a vital step towards having a countywide concessionary travel scheme with no time limits, at a cost of £1.3 million.
Councillors from across the county agreed on Monday that officers should look at drawing up a policy over the next three months. Currently people with the passes in the Bridgnorth district can only use them for free travel between certain times. In other parts of the county there are no time restrictions.
The new scheme would be brought in by the unitary Shropshire Council next April and cover those who have reached the age of 60 or who suffer from a “qualifying” disability. The resources sub-committee, which is helping to oversee the transition to unitary status, also agreed that further work should be undertaken on including carers and companions of those with a disability in the policy.
The move to bring in a countywide scheme and ditch the rule that passes can only be used from 9.30am, was prompted by a call from Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. A report to Monday’s meeting said that pre-9.30am travel would cost an extra £43,000 to £172,000. Free carers/companions passes would cost between £292,000 and £351,000.
In the region of £670,000 would have to be spent on additional buses. Total additional costs were put at between £1,205,000 and £1,393,000.
The report said that the councils were continuing to receive about 200 new applications for passes each week.
It added: ‘This is expected to increase in the short term when old passes are no longer valid (July 31,2008) and with the introduction of the rural transport strategy making public transport more accessible ,and increasing fuel costs making free public transport more attractive.’
