Pensioners and disabled to lose half-price coach travel in sneaky Tory-led cutbacks . . .

DPAC

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Pensioners and disabled to lose half-price coach travel in sneaky Tory-led cutbacks Posted: 23 Aug 2011 05:53 AM PDT Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said: “The Government has made great play of keeping concessionary passes. Yet thousands who use them as their only means of going on holiday or seeing relatives will have this option taken away. “Ministers don’t seem to get that coaches are a vital link for pensioners and disabled people and that losing their concessionary travel could greatly reduce their quality of life.” She accused the Government of cutting too far, too fast and pointed out that funds for local buses had seen an overall reduction of £572million. She added: “Many pensioners with free bus passes will no longer have a bus to use them on.” Andrew Cleaves, managing director of National Express coaches, said the move “appeared to run counter” to David Cameron’s pre-election promises. On the hustings last year the Tory PM insisted: “Labour are trying to frighten old people by saying we’ll take away bus passes, or winter fuel payments. Well I can tell you we’re going to keep those things.” Read more at The Mirror DPAC was also sent this letter from Andrew Cleaves to a supporter: As somebody who has used the Government’s half price coach ticket scheme, we want to give you some important information. The scheme currently provides up to half price travel for over 60 year olds and disabled people through Government funding. The Government has announced that this funding will end on 31 October 2011 as part of its spending cuts programme. While we are looking to introduce a replacement scheme, without the government funding it is not possible to make discounts as high and the cost of travel will increase for you. We have written to the Government to ask that they reconsider this decision. We have also written to a number of MPs to raise our concerns. Many MPs have told us they agree and have written to ministers at the Department for Transport to ask them whether they have considered the potential impact on eligible passengers’ ability to travel. From your letters and emails, we know that many of you rely on the half price fares. Some have also expressed concern that without it, they may not be able to travel. If you share these concerns, perhaps you could write to, or email, your local MP to encourage them to raise your concern with the Department for Transport. If you wish to write to your local MP we have included a letter template that you may want to use, simply add your details, print and send. Download Letter Here >>> We will be in touch soon with more information on how you can take advantage of the half price travel scheme before it ends. Yours Sincerely, Andrew Cleaves Managing Director – National Express, Coach Do write as we feel that public transport should be kept viable for older and disabled people who would be even more isolated and unable to get out of their homes.