Charity slams Lancashire council’s decision to end discounted bus fares for disabled NoWCard holders before 9:30 AM.
They voted to stop the £1 fare before 9:30 AM. This deal was for disabled people with a NoWCard, and it stops on April 1. Regular free bus travel stays the same though. Free travel still works after 9:30 AM on weekdays; weekends and holidays remain free too. This free travel is a national thing.
The £1 fare will still work in Blackpool and Blackburn. Those councils pay for it there themselves. It only impacts Lancashire county council areas.
Someone from Disability Equality North West is worried, as travel costs might differ across Lancashire. This could be a real issue. Disabled people might struggle to travel.
People want the early fare to stay, as it helps them get to work or medical appointments. They also pay taxes after they get to work, so it is a double hit. It is frustrating when cost savings hurt disabled folks the most.
A council leader called the decision “regrettable.” He said they needed to balance the budget. It sounds like it was a tough choice. Another councillor said it will negatively affect vulnerable people. An assessment revealed these negative impacts on the community.
The council only had to give “due regard” to those concerns. They did not necessarily need to fully prevent these negative impacts.
Many card holders worry about costs. Some people think expenses will rise by £500 a year. They might lose jobs if they can’t travel cheaply. Most people disagreed with this change.
Someone else called the cut “cruel.” He said it only saves the council very little money overall. It is a tough situation for all people.