Free Travel Scheme Confirmed

At Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Executive meeting on Monday 31 July, Councillors discussed the Notice of Motion concerning concessionary travel terms and conditions for blind bus pass holders.  

The Executive agreed to reaffirm the current terms and conditions of the Countywide Travel Scheme.  Since 1 April 2006 everybody aged 60 or over and people with qualifying disabilities, living in Warwickshire, has enjoyed free 'off peak' travel on bus services within the county and on cross border services starting or finishing in Warwickshire.  

"The statutory requirement is for the Council to provide a free travel bus pass for 'off peak' travel within the district from 9.30am on weekdays and anytime at weekends. By working with the other Councils in Warwickshire we have been able to offer a Countywide Scheme whereby passholders are able to travel free throughout Warwickshire and beyond to other villages and towns cross border from the earlier time of 9am on weekdays.  This is vitally important to our residents who live in rural areas and those whose nearest towns are such as Leamington, Banbury, Evesham and Redditch," says Cllr Gillian Roache, Revenues & Housing Portfolio.  

"The scheme we have adopted has significant budget implications and we have had to be prudent in its composition.  This new Countywide scheme has also brought into line any historical anomalies from previous schemes; the scheme is, and was always intended to be, an 'off peak' scheme. The new scheme has meant that a small number of people have lost out, but for the vast majority the new scheme this is a much-improved offer of free bus travel. National Government have announced there will be a national 'off peak' scheme from 1 April 2008 and we await guidance from the Department for Transport on the details of this scheme."  

So far Stratford-on-Avon District Council has issued over 14,000 bus passes.   

If you would like more information about the scheme please contact the District Council on 01789 260408.