Basildon pensioners lose out over bus pass changes (From Echo)

Basildon pensioners lose out over bus pass changes

6:52am Friday 1st February 2008 in

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PENSIONERS in Basildon will lose an hour and a half's free travel time a day on their bus passes from April.

At the moment, passes can be used countywide between 9am and midnight.

From April, when a similar, national scheme comes in, over-sixties and the disabled in Basildon will only be allowed to use their passes from 9.30am to 11pm.

Basildon Council, has taken the decision to save money and help its case to the Government for more funding for the scheme.

Keith Hudson, deputy leader of Rochford District Council said: "This could be something the council may have to consider when the impact of the national scheme becomes clear.

"Reducing the hours passes are available could be one way of helping to meet the shortfall in funding."

However, Nigel Holdcroft, leader of Southend Council, said people in Southend would still be able to use their passes from 9am.

He added: "The cabinet looked at changing the time to 9.30am for people in Southend, but felt this was unfair to disabled people who worked.

"We decided the time should be retained at 9am."

The position for Castle Point pensioners is not yet clear.