Free passes for over 60's in Uttlesford to start from 9 a.m.

9.32.15pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 23rd Jun 2008

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

Liberal Democrats on Uttlesford District Council have welcomed the decision by the members of the Council's Environment Committee last Tuesday to allow residents over 60 in Uttlesford to use their free bus passes from 9.00 a.m. instead of the later start of 9.30 a.m. that has applied since April.

Not being able to use the pass before 9.30 a.m. has been inconvenient for some people, as the first available bus has often been much later. The later start may be suitable for urban areas where buses are frequent, but not in a rural area where travellers have had to wait until nearly 10.30 a.m. before they can travel free.

Councillor Alan Dean, who has been campaigning for a change, said "I have had complaints from travellers unable to attend hospital appointments before about 11 a.m. unless they paid to use the bus. Their bus passes were not as valuable as that of someone with a better bus service. It was also made worse, because over the border in Hertfordshire there is no restriction on the times of use."

Councillor Ron Clover of Dunmow added: "I am glad that Uttlesford pass holders will soon get back a fairer deal. I have had complaints from Dunmow people about the present 9.30 restriction."