Lib Dems try to sort out bus pass fiasco

5.38.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Jun 2006

Liberal Democrat councillors across the constituency are taking action to sort out the government's botched pensioner bus pass scheme.

Cllrs John Williams, Jim Stewart, Joan Smith, Hazel Smith and Jonathan Chatfield handing a letter from the SCDC Lib Dem Group about concessionary bus fares to John Brown, the Transport Team Leader at the Government Offices in Cambridge, to pass on to John Prescott.

Lib Dems on South Cambs District Council presented a letter to John Brown, the Transport Team Leader for the region, to express their concerns about the scheme that has left pensioners worse off than before.

Histon and Impington Councillor Jonathan Chatfield said "The money should have been given at County level, which would mean that the scheme would have been simpler and would cover travel across district boundaries."

The existing scheme only covers travel within the district, meaning that pensioners wishing to travel from South Cambs District, where there are no towns, into Cambridge city have to pay more.

Meanwhile, Lib Dems on East Cambs District Council proposed a motion asking the Council Officers to work with other Councils in the County to set up a County-wide bus pass scheme.