As mentioned in an earlier post here Tory councils in Lancashire took the opportunity of the introduction of the government's national free travel scheme for over 65s and disabled people to scupper the scheme by withdrawing their own funding for peak-time travel leaving people wanting to travel at these times stranded or out of pocket.
After pressure from Labour MP for West Lancashire Rosie Cooper, the Conservatives on West Lancashire District Council voted to reinstate the 50p flat rate less than a month after they abolished it.
Rosie said:
“The council’s willingness to axe the 50p scheme in the first place meant that disabled people who had to go to work or pensioners with early hospital appointments were being hit in the pocket."
“It was an absolute disgrace but they now appear to have seen sense."
“I’m now demanding they allow people in West Lancashire to have free bus and rail travel, unlike the current situation where they are only allowed to have one or the other."
“That was another one of the Tories’ bright ideas which has led to many West Lancashire people wondering why they are being treated like second-class citizens compared to those living in neighbouring authorities."
“But the Tories are slowly waking up to the fact that their barmy decisions are having a negative impact on people’s lives, so I look forward to them doing even more U-turns in the future.”
The Labour Group at South Ribble have been and will continue to call to account the Conservatives locally on travel opportunities for those eligible for concessionary fares.
So far their response questions their commitment to people on lower incomes and those who wish to use public transport.
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