South
Cerney Weblog
The
South Cerney Blog is a collection of diary entries, news, gossip
and other information relating to the Cotswold village of South
Cerney and the surrounding Cotswold area
Over 60s urged to choose bus pass or travel tokens
Cotswold residents are being asked to decide if they wish to receive free bus travel or a limited number of travel tokens, following a shake-up in the law.
From April 2006, everyone aged over 60 is entitled to a bus pass, which allows free unlimited travel on any journey that starts in the Cotswold District and does not involve a change of bus. Under the present system, the pass covers only half the fare.
The pass can be used on all registered local transport services but cannot be used on long-distance coach services, excursions, rail services, dial-a-ride, taxi or private-hire services or social car schemes.
Tokens will, as now, still be available for use in taxis and non-registered transport services, but will remain at the value of £16.
Cotswold District Council, which runs the scheme, has sent out more than 10,000 application forms to residents aged over 60 and people with certain disabilities who are entitled to the passes. Now it is urging people to return the forms as soon as possible.
Residents cannot receive both tokens and a pass – they may only have one or the other – and once they have made a choice, they cannot change it until April 2007.
There is no charge made for the tokens or the bus pass, which is valid for a year, but applicants must send a passport-sized photograph if they are applying for a pass for the first time.
While there will be no time limit on bus travel, operators are entitled not to pick up passholders before 9.30am on the grounds of limited space on specific services.
Posted :
1/3/2006 11:22:02 AM
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