Flexible travel for bus pass holders (From Knutsford Guardian)
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Flexible travel for bus pass holders
2:30pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in News
CHESHIRE East Council’s Cabinet has voted in favour of free flexible transport for holders of concessionary bus passes across the whole borough.
From now on concessionary bus pass holders can access Dial-a-Ride services in the south of the borough.
The decision was approved at last the cabinet meeting on June 25 after it emerged that people in the north of the borough were able to use their concessionary pass on the service but those in the south were having to pay.
The disparity arose following the collapse of East Cheshire Community Transport, who ran Dial-a-Ride in the south, and Cheshire East Council’s subsequent move to resurrect the service as soon as possible.
Leader Clr Michael Jones said: “It was obvious that this was grossly unfair to the people in the south and if not rectified, would have created a postcode lottery whereby people are treated differently merely by accident of where they lived in the borough.
“Everyone should be treated equally which is why my cabinet voted in favour of rectifying this anomaly.”
test10 says...
10:13pm Wed 4 Jul 12
Now Cllr Jones follow through on your own logic. You and the same Cabinet stopped school transport support for 16 year olds. The reasons you gave were it's a discretionary concession and we don't have the money.
There is discretion here on how to support this concession and support was found even though it will cost 80k more and is not budgeted for.
Let me be clear I think both the elderly and the young should be supported. Otherwise there is a clear anomaly between young and old which is grossly unfair.
This young group will all be able to vote next time around. You and your cabinet will need to explain to them why your transport decisions discriminated on the grounds of age.
So Cllr Jones when will you reverse the school transport decision for 16s?