COUNCILLORS are to be asked to remove a controversial restriction which stops pensioners and disabled people enjoying free bus travel in the Bridgnorth district before 9.30am. The rule has angered a number of local people, some of whom have aired their complaints in letters to the Journal.
The district council’s community improvement committee will be recommended to ditch the restriction when it meets on Monday. Councillors will be recommended to agree to £15,000 being found to cover the estimated increase in cost arising from the removal of the restriction.
Steve Ogram, the council’s head of finance, and Adrian Dean, democratic services manager, explain in a joint report that people aged 60, or those with a disability currently have free travel from 9.30am-11pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays.
‘This is a minimum requirement specified in the national scheme, but councils have discretion to relax the scheme.
‘The decision would have a financial implication, as there is likely to be an increase in free journeys,’ they add.
The officers point out that there are no time restrictions in the South Shropshire and North Shropshire District Council areas and that other authorities have removed restrictions.
‘A number of residents have asked for the removal of the restriction, as in many areas bus timetables do not readily accommodate potential users,’ they report.
The One Council for Shropshire resources sub-committee has highlighted inconsistencies in schemes operated by district and borough councils across the county and the need for a ‘harmonised’ approach following the formation of the unitary authority next April.
District council chief executive John Harmeston has contacted the county council chief executive to successfully gain support to remove the restriction.
The committee will also be asked on Monday to back the approval of a supplementary estimate of £30,000 to meet a projected increase in reimbursement to bus operators in response to increased fares. Both supplementary estimates would go to the council’s resources and finance committee for approval.