Confusion Over Bus Passes

9.36.44am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 27th Apr 2008

Julia Hirons and Lib Dem Councillor Ron Clover check out the bus service in Dunmow.

With the introduction of the new national bus pass scheme for older people and the disabled, many members of the public have been confused by the new 9.30 a.m. start time in Uttlesford. Before the new scheme came into force on April 1st, free travel used to begin at 9.00a.m.

Where buses are as infrequent as they are in Uttlesford, many people are much worse off under the new scheme. If there is only one bus an hour, people either have to pay the full fare or wait until after 10 to travel. This has implications for hospital and doctors' appointments.

Cllr Morson, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Henham and Elsenham, said, "I already know of one complaint about the switch from the 9.00 a.m. start for the validity of the passes. This has meant that a resident at one end of Henham can catch a VL7 bus at 9.31 whereas a friend at the other end of the village is being told access will be refused a stop or two earlier at 9.29 on the same bus. They will have to wait until 10.29 or walk the length of the village to the later stop!! Some Essex districts - such as Braintree - have decided that their free travel schemes will run from 09.00."

Cllr Alan Dean, Liberal Democrat Member for Stansted said, "We are keen to know how the new scheme is going and want feedback from the community. I will ensure it is considered at the Environment Committee in June, when the new scheme will be reviewed. The bus pass is valid until 11p.m. but, as most buses in Uttlesford stop running well before that, it is of little use. The last bus from Stansted to the hospital in Bishop's Stortford stops mid-afternoon. Residents of Stansted are bewildered that they can't use the 9 a.m. 7A bus from Maitland Road to the hospital, yet people with passes can get on it a mile down the road when it crosses the border into Hertfordshire.