Flintshire Council approves changes to Ring and Ride to manage budget. More fees and stricter rules applied.
The service is very popular now. Its costs are too high, though. Flintshire officials approved some changes, wanting to better manage the budget. A committee asked about these plans last week, seeking more details.
The service has made 7,000 trips since 2000, mainly for people traveling to health appointments. The service will cost £40,000 over budget for 2024 and 2025, due to increased usage.
Many trips don’t meet the rules, with some users traveling to ineligible places, including certain hospitals. The council thinks a third of trips violate rules because they are not medical or out of the county, creating a budget problem.
To address this, the council will stop service for ineligible people. They will also increase fees to balance the budget, having changed the rules to save money.
Now, people must prove they cannot use other transport when attending medical appointments. They must demonstrate this lack of alternative transport options. Registration now costs £20 per year, up from £10. Also, journey prices are going up since the prior fees have been the same since 2017. They want updated prices and are now making adjustments.
The minimum journey fee is now £2.50, which applies to trips under five miles. This helps manage the increasing costs. The service is available to some residents, but they must meet the eligibility rules. Check the council’s website for further details.