£10 annual bus fee call by pensioners
Tuesday 26th April 2011, 6:25PM BST.
Senior citizens in Shropshire who claim the cost of buses is too expensive have called for elderly people to be allowed to pay a one-off £10 payment each year to cover all their fares.
Members of the Whitchurch, Wem and District Senior Citizens Forum want to see bus fares lowered after claiming the rise in travel costs is hitting people hard in their pockets.
They are planning to write to Shropshire Council asking for elderly people to be allowed to make a one-off payment of £10 a year to allow them to use buses throughout the day alongside their normal bus pass, including before 9.30am.
They claim a similar scheme in North Yorkshire has proved very successful and are urging the unitary authority to take the proposal seriously. If successful they hope the scheme will be rolled out across the county.
The proposal was made at a meeting of the forum last week in Whitchurch Senior Club. Forum chairman Bet-ty Bateman said it “was well supported at the forum and will be officially proposed to Shropshire Council.”
Jonathan Hayes, principal transport officer for Shropshire Council, said the suggestions would be considered.
Other issues at the meeting included the closure of the 16-bed Beech Ward at Whitchurch Hospital. The last of its kind in the county, the Beech Ward caters for elderly mentally ill patients.
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
£10. How generous.
Whilst i understand that to some pensioners the bus is a vital link to retaining their freedom, the majority can afford to pay. It really irritates me when i have to pay for a bus to work whilst another person that works and just so happens to be over 60 gets to ride for free.
Surely having worked all their lives, most pensioners are in a better financial position than everyone else?
Means testing is required.
Report abuse
Completely agree with Elephant……… why should they be different to everyone else?
£10 is a ridiculous offer……..
Report abuse
I think those who need vehicles to get to work should only have to make a one off annual fuel payment of £10
There, can i be in charge now.
Report abuse