Campaign group Waterside Changemakers ‘disappointed’ by Hampshire County Council’s refusal to make U-turn on bus pass cuts

CAMPAIGNERS fighting against new restrictions on bus passes for the disabled and elderly have been left “extremely disappointed” after their pleas were ignored.

As reported in the A&T, Hampshire County Council’s proposals, which came into effect on Tuesday, include removing free travel for disabled bus pass holders before 9.30am and after 11pm on weekdays, and charging companions of disabled pass holders, who had been free.

The cash-strapped council also removed the infrequent bus service exemption, which allows older pass holders to travel before 9.30am in areas with limited bus services, resulting in total savings of around £75,000.

Campaign group Waterside Changemakers launched a petition to highlight how the changes would isolate disabled and older people, saying it will also undermine their independence and wellbeing.

Members presented the council’s cabinet members and leader, Cllr Nick Adams-King, with letters detailing how they would be personally affected.

Maria Cooper, a member of Waterside Changemakers, who started the petition against the bus pass cuts and who has a disabled son affected by them, said: “We are extremely disappointed to learn that Hampshire County Council has rejected our petition, signed by more than 2,000 people, calling on it to cancel planned cuts to the disabled bus pass.

“These cruel cuts will cause hardship and isolation to thousands of disabled people.

“From 1st April, 18,000 disabled pass holders in Hampshire will be banned from using their passes before 9.30am and after 11pm. Also, 5,000 of the most vulnerable disabled people, who cannot travel alone on buses, will be stripped of their companion passes which allow a volunteer to travel with them.

“These cuts will save the council only £73,000 but hurt people whose mobility is already restricted by their disability.

“We are also disappointed that we have yet to receive a formal response from the council to our petition, which was submitted six weeks ago, despite the council promising to send one. It seems disrespectful to disabled people that the council did not even bother to inform us before apparently telling the media that our petition had been rejected.

“The council failed to consult disabled people properly about these planned cuts, and this pattern of poor communication has continued throughout our engagement with the council’s cabinet.”

Due to its “unprecedented” financial position, the county council said it has to “focus” its resources on providing mandatory services, leading to “difficult decisions” about what it can afford in the future.

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “As part of a package of savings agreed last year to plug a significant budget gap, from April 1st the discretionary ‘top-up’ enhancements to older persons’ and disabled bus passes that have previously been funded by the county council will come to an end.

“The changes will impact a small percentage of journeys made, which go above and beyond the national scheme.”

However, the county council confirmed that if the Department for Transport reviewed the statutory minimum offer for the English national concessionary travel and introduced all-day weekday travel for disabled bus holders, the Hampshire Concessionary Travel Scheme would be amended to reflect this.

The spokesperson added: “We would welcome this expansion of the national scheme alongside adequate government funding to provide it.”

While it recognises that the changes may require some to adjust their travel plans or cover the cost of certain trips, users can still use their passes during most hours, said the council.