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Free Bus Travel for Over 60's and Disabled

PR 148

15 March 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Great Yarmouth Borough Council and its partner District and Borough Councils across Norfolk have worked together with bus operators to give residents who are over 60 or have a disability, a great new deal on bus travel across the whole of the county.

From 1 April 2006, eligible travellers will be entitled to free travel by bus between the hours of 08.30 and 23.00 hours Monday to Friday, instead of paying half fare as under the existing scheme. Bus travel will also be free at all times during weekends and bank holidays. Free travel is available at all times for pass holders who are registered blind. In all cases journeys must start or finish in Norfolk.

To take advantage of this service, residents must hold an appropriate bus pass. Anyone who already has a concessionary bus pass for the existing (half fare) Norfolk scheme, will be able to continue to use this with the new scheme after 1 April. They will not need a new pass until their existing one has expired. If their pass has expired or they do not currently hold a pass, they will need to apply for one. Whilst the pass is issued free of charge, it will be necessary to bring a passport sized photo along to be applied to the new photocard pass for identification purposes. Passes are valid for two years.

Further information about the new scheme is available here, it includes details of how and where to apply for a bus pass.

Personal callers can also obtain a bus pass, with the necessary documentation including a passport sized photo, from either the Cashiers Office in Trafalgar House (behind the Town Hall) or from the Cashiers Office in Gorleston Library.

For an application form please call the Chief Cashier on 01493 846264 or e-mail gp@great-yarmouth.gov.uk.

Notes for Editors
All seven district councils in Norfolk have joined forces to develop the Norfolk Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme. They are Breckland District Council, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, North Norfolk District Council, Norwich City Council and South Norfolk District Council. (The countywide scheme is administered by Norwich City Council.)

Funding for the change from a half fare scheme to a free travel scheme was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, in his 2005 budget. Great Yarmouth received an additional £567,000 for the new scheme for 2006/07 and will use all of this funding to pay for the scheme in 2006/07.

From 1 April 2006 legislation under the Transport Act 2000 requires a minimum statutory scheme for free travel between the hours of 0930 and 2300 hours within each travel concession authorities (TCA) area. Each of the district / borough councils is a TCA and therefore the new scheme provides a better service for those persons who qualify, in both the size of the travel area and hours that the scheme is available.

For further policy information regarding this press release please contact Mark Kemp (Group Accountant – Monitoring) and Concessionary Travel Policy Advisor at GYBC - Telephone 01493 846511 or email mjk@great-yarmouth.gov.uk.

Issued on behalf of Mark Kemp by:

Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513

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