Wales to continue offering free bus passes
Ferry Online Travel News 22/03/2010
A Welsh minister has announced that bus passes will still be free, despite changes in England
Buses in Wales will continue to be free for elderly and disabled passengers, despite a decision in England to raise the age of entitlement. The new rules in England will bring the bus pass age in line with the state pension and are set to be in place from April 1.
Deputy First Minister for Wales Ieuan Wyn Jones has, however, stressed that there will be no such changes implemented in Wales. Instead, he reiterated his plans to include injured servicemen and veterans into the bus pass scheme. Everyone in Wales over the age of 60 can apply to their local authority for a bus pass, regardless of any changes that may or may not be made to the state pension nationally.
This move has been welcomed by the Bus Users UK movement. A spokesperson for the organisation said the confirmation would have a real calming effect on all those worried about their travel arrangements and that it would have a beneficial impact on the lives of the disabled and the elderly.
There has been a long-standing decline is bus usage both in Wales and the UK as a whole, and it is hoped by Welsh politicians that this move may turn that trend around by ensuring that the people who need it can travel for free.
Last year the UK government created ripples of anger in the elderly community when rumours emerged that they were planning to start means testing bus passes. Although the government admits to looking into this option, they claim that such a move was never realistically on the cards.
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