Guy McGregor

Councillors to reconsider Suffolk concessionary fares scheme

Thursday, December 6, 2012
10:02 AM

County councillors are set to reconsider Suffolk’s concessionary fares scheme at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

They are to consider bringing forward the start time for free travel for those who qualify on age grounds from 9.30am to 9am – a move which officials say could cost between £144,000 and £180,000 a year.

But a more major change is being examined for those who qualify for free travel on grounds of disability.

One option is to remove the time limit altogether for this – officials estimate the cost would be somewhere between £71,000 and £345,000 a year.

The council’s cabinet members are being given a free vote on the options and there is no recommended choice for them.

Another option on the agenda is increasing the value of travel vouchers for those who are not able to use free travel passes from £50 a year to £100 – but this was already agreed earlier in the year.

Guy McGregor, cabinet member with responsibility for transport, said: “We only have a limited amount of money in the budget, and if we increase the amount for one service then we have to lose it for another.

“The figures have to be carefully weighed – and we are giving cabinet members the opportunity to consider the issue for themselves.”