3rd August 2010
Concessionary Fares
In 2009, the previous government decided that the responsibility for the issue of what are better known as ‘OAP Bus Passes’ would change from the district councils to the county councils, from 2011. Hampshire County Council has been holding a series of consultation meetings with councillors, members of interested organisations and the general public to discuss the issues arising from this change. A draft scheme will then be drawn up for presentation to the full county council, and the result will be published in December 2011. The new arrangements will be implemented on 1 April 2011, when Hampshire County Council will take over.
Under the present scheme, each district council and Hampshire County Council receives an amount from the government to reimburse them for the payments to the bus operators for ‘OAP’ journeys. By Act of Parliament, all persons in England aged 60 and over must be granted free bus travel between 9.30am and 11.00pm Monday-Friday, and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. Hampshire County Council must continue to honour this legislation, and receives an amount for the bus passes, which is included in the annual Revenue Support Grant from the government.
Currently, many district councils add contributions from their own funds for extra provisions. Locally, Gosport allows the ‘free’ travel to begin at 9.00am, and also offers residents the option of tokens, instead of a bus pass, which may also be used on taxis, ferries or rail journeys. Other district councils make different facilities available. It is mainly these variations that have been under discussion at the meetings. Hampshire County Council must then decide which, if any, of the local variations can be continued. In order to achieve a fair result, these variations will probably be made county-wide, resulting in the possible loss of some facilities, while gaining some others. For example, New Forest District Council allows the use of the pass on the Hythe-Southampton ferry. Perhaps this facility may be retained, and the Gosport ferry could be accessed using the bus pass. On the other hand, the issue of tokens will probably cease.
One of the decisions to be made concerns the places where the tokens will be issued. Amongst the suggestions are that local town halls and council offices, post offices and libraries could be used.
There is considerable disquiet amongst the disabled and visually challenged. The loss of tokens would be a penalty, as taxis would no longer be an option, and no account is being given to assist the carers who must accompany the people that they are responsible for.
On the positive side, the legislation can only be removed by a new act of parliament, and there are no plans by the present government to introduce one. So current (and prospective) holders can rest assured that the scheme will remain in place for the foreseeable future. This does not mean that the system cannot be ‘tweaked’, and it is likely that the age of introduction will be raised above the current sixty years, but this will not affect existing pass holders in any way.
For members who would like a copy of the consultation form (which must be completed by 31 August), either go to the website www3.hants.gov.uk/transportforums or telephone 01962 850477.