Free early morning bus travel for over-60s to be scrapped by Hull City Council (VOTE)
Free early morning bus travel for thousands of elderly and disabled people in Hull is to be axed.
City councillors say they can't afford to continue subsidising free travel before the 9.30am starting time for the national concessionary scheme.
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Buses leave Paragon Interchange in Ferensway
Instead, they expect to save around £300,000-a-year by scrapping the initiative.
The early morning bus subsidy currently applies throughout the week and allows the over-60s and disabled people to travel anywhere in Hull for free.
It is estimated around one-in-ten bus journeys in Hull before 9.30am are made by concessionary passholders.
Councillor Dave Woods, cabinet member for transport, said the move was necessary because of a continuing squeeze on resources at the authority as a result of the national spending review.
"We did look at and option of starting the subsidy from 8.30am, but it would really complicate the issue.
"Additional grant funding is only available until the end of this year so if we did go to 8.30am it would all have to be reviewed again in 12 months' time.
"Moving the timings to the national scheme seems to be the way forward," he added.
Trish Dalby, the council's head of streetscene services, said a re-think over the subsidy was needed despite its popularity with passengers.
"Although the rationale for the discretionary element, drawing as it does on factors like the relatively low incidence of car ownership in the city, has often been debated in the past, the financial constraints now incumbent on the council are such that a fundamental re-appraisal of the relevant benefits and costs of the discretionary scheme is essential," she added.
The current free early morning travel subsidy for nearly 44,000 passholders in the city is expected to end on December 31.
A similar move to scrap East Riding Council's "Early Bird" scheme was agreed by councillors in Beverley earlier this month.
Adam Fowler, co-ordinator of the City of Hull Environment Forum, said both councils needed to ensure information on alternative free bus services for elderly people with medical appointments was made available to passengers before the two subsidy schemes were scrapped.
The new coalition government has pledged to continue the national free bus scheme.
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by Me, City Centre
Thursday, July 29 2010, 8:17AM
“Manc, the 'school bus' in question wasn't a contract to the school, it was a commercial service that went to an East Riding school because the operator saw a chance to make money.
Again, no connection to Hull. A PTE will never happen here because we don't have the size of population to fund it.
I think it would be fantastic to have the funding PTE's get for this area, but it isn't going to happen anytime soon!”
by J zee, Hull
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 10:13PM
“Ain't it great to see such fools comment I mean do people think that the busses would run if no one got on it where do they think the money comes from to pay for the drivers, fuel and maintenance prob the same clever people who say the Humber bridge should be free because I'm sure it won't fall down with no maintenance for god sake use what small brain I have !!!!!!”
by Toad soup, Hull / uk
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 9:53PM
“One of these days, You will find that you will want a bus pass, That will be because you will be an Old Phart like us, So Shut It.”
by Lizzie, Hull
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 8:33PM
“I have just read the remarks on here going on about pensioners getting free bus passes as the tax payer pays for them. I am a pensioner and I pay both Income Tax and Council Tax so I along with most other pensioners pay for our passes and they are not free.
If someone is getting a little extra out come the green eyed monsters. So stop moaning and get on with your lives. Try and make them happier for yourselves.”
by Susan Donald, Bridlington
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 8:09PM
“Why do pensioners think they have a right to free travel when it is the tax payer who has to pay. Also why does the reader Solly, Estover, above think that the bus companies should issue passes out of good will? Private companies should not be propping up failing government policy.”