Later start for free buses

BUS pass-holders in Reigate and Banstead will have to wait half an hour longer for free bus travel from next month.

More than 16,000 over-60s and disabled people are entitled to free bus journeys throughout Surrey from 9am to 11pm. But, from Tuesday, April 1, when new country-wide passes are introduced, the start time will be 9.30am.

The Government has allocated funding for the passes only from 9.30am. To keep the 9am start time, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council would have to pay for the extra half-hour.

The borough council decided not to fund buses from 9am but neighbouring Mole Valley District Council, which provides passes for Charlwood residents, took the opposite decision. It will pay what could be an extra £5,000 to £17,000 a year for its 9,000 bus pass-holders to keep their existing free bus hours.

Leader of the Mole Valley council Tim Hall said: "We were extremely concerned to learn of the impact the revised start would have had on many of our older and disabled residents.This was not an issue we could let go and therefore we have reallocated some of our transport budget in order to fund this vital service."

Michael Buttery, Reigate and Banstead's executive member for finance, said Mole Valley had "broken ranks" with Surrey's ten other district and borough councils, which will adopt the Government minimum hours of 9.30am to 11pm. He added: "One of the reasons for our decision was that we wanted a uniform scheme across Surrey which was simple for users." Cllr Buttery said the council would not change its mind as 14,500 passes had already been printed in preparation for April. The decision could be reconsidered next year.

Elaine Parr, Citizens Advice Bureau district manager for Reigate and Banstead, will have to pay £212 a year from the charity coffers for two voluntary advisers to travel to the Redhill branch to start work at 10am. She said clients had also expressed concerns about travelling to doctor's and hospital appointments.

Asked how he would defend the council decision to residents, Cllr Buttery said: "Providing a national scheme across county boundaries is already a major concession. We do not know what the take-up of the scheme will be, there is great uncertainty about future funding and we anticipate changes next year. In our situation it would not be appropriate to consider further concessions until there is much more certainty about both these factors."

East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth said: "I fully appreciate the deeply held concern of local residents who need to travel before 9.30am and who will be severely inconvenienced as a result of this Government's poor financial planning."