Shepway's Cabinet leaves Bus Pass holders out in the cold

The Tory Cabinet on Shepway District Council clearly does not have the best interests of pensioners at heart. Without the decision going to a vote of Council, Shepway's Cabinet has imposed a time alteration for holders of a free Bus Pass. From April the earliest a Bus Pass holder can travel free of charge will be changed from 9.00am to 9.30am.

Hythe Lib Dem campaigner Neil Matthews said:

"This will make it more difficult for many pensioners to get to early commitments, including work, medical appointments and social care. In one instance raised with me, the change will make it impossible for one local resident to be on time for their shift at a Hythe Charity Shop.

"The Cabinet clearly places the benefit of green travel and pensioners' well-being very low down on its priority list. With the Council Tax rise very likely to outstrip the pension increase again this year you just can't afford to retire."

Neil has written to Cllr Pam Carr, the Conservative District Secretary for Customer Services, asking why this timetable change has been made and how much it will save the Council.

Darren Briddock, Hythe Lib Dem campaigner, commented:

"I suspect this move is a cost saving exercise and will force early bus travellers either to pay for their trip, get their car out or not travel at all. With Conservative run Hythe Town Council setting a 15% rise for its part of the Council tax, and a 66.6% increase on allotments charges should you also want a plot in your retirement - it's not good news for Shepway's over 60's."

Neil Matthews letter to Cllr Carr reads:

"Many local pensioners have raised with me that the travel time of their buss pass will be changing in April, with the starting time moved from the current 9am to 9.30am. This will make it more difficult for many pensioners to get to early commitments, including work, medical appointments and social care. In one instance raised with me, the change will make it impossible for one local resident to be on time for their shift at a Hythe Charity Shop.

"I understand a new national bus pass scheme is being introduced, and there is a significant additional Government grant to support that introduction. Can you explain why Shepway have chose to reduce the hours of our bus pass scheme to start at 9.30, when Kent has offered travel from 9am across the county for some time, and could, if it wished, continue to do so?

"As I suspect this will be a cost saving move, could you confirm how much money it is expected Shepway will save if the travel time is moved from 9am to 9.30?"