4 March 2008

From 1 April 2008 the way free bus travel operates for elderly and disabled residents is changing, as the Government’s new bus permit scheme comes into effect. Guildford Borough residents aged 60 or over and eligible disabled people will be able to travel for free during off-peak hours on local buses anywhere in England.

Says Lead Councillor for Environment, Cllr Jenny Wicks: “This change means that eligible permit holders in Guildford Borough will be able to use the bus to visit neighbouring boroughs without having to pay any fares. The same bus permit will ensure free off-peak use of the buses anywhere in England rather than just in their local borough as with the current scheme.

“While we welcome the fact that this will benefit many people, and we want free travel for elderly and disabled people, it will leave Guildford Borough Council as one of a number of councils to bear a substantial extra cost to fund the changes”.

Cllr Tony Rooth, Lead Councillor for Finance and Resources, explains: “We have a shortfall in government funding for the expanded bus scheme of around £340,000, which is equivalent to a 4.4% increase on our portion of the annual council tax bill. To accommodate this shortfall and achieve a 2.98% increase in council tax we were unable to progress with as many improvements in services as we would have liked when we set the latest council budget. This includes earlier improvements to the recycling service and the opportunity to put money in to our 'invest to save' reserve for more energy efficiency initiatives.

“The government funding shortfall is due to changes in its calculations for allocating money to councils to pay for the national concessionary bus fare scheme,” adds Cllr Rooth.