South Lakeland District Council has received a "disappointing" response from the government following its request for assistance towards a more flexible concessionary fares scheme.

Councillors have been lobbying the government over the past few months to introduce a more equitable scheme that does not disadvantage rural areas.

But the response from the Department of Transport states that the government has no plans to change the statutory minimum requirement of a half-fare local bus pass, and will not be providing additional funds to allow councils to introduce more flexible schemes.

For a number of years SLDC operated a voucher scheme that

entitled residents to discounts on train, bus, taxi or ferry fares or on car parking permits.

However, in April 2001 the government introduced legislation to ensure that councils provided a half-fare bus pass for senior citizens and disabled people.

SLDC was unable to fund two schemes because it had to find

£1.2 million of savings last year, so the voucher scheme was withdrawn.

The statutory half-fare bus pass has not been welcomed by many people in South Lakeland due to the infrequency of buses in the county and the problems of access for many disabled people.

Coun Jennifer Borer, who led consultation with local and national organisations, said she was disappointed by the government's hard-line response.

"They have introduced a one size fits all' scheme which I'm sure will be well-received in urban areas with

regular and frequent services.

"However, in rural districts such as South Lakeland there simply aren't enough buses operating to make a bus-pass scheme the fairest form of subsidised transport for older people.

"Our residents should be allowed to choose the method of transport that best suits their needs whether that be train, taxi, car or bus."

February 5, 2003 09:00