Extra government funding needed to make concessionary fares fair for London

London's borough leaders have today (Tuesday) called on the government to ensure London receives extra funding to cover the cost of providing older and disabled people across the country with free bus travel in the capital.

The Concessionary Bus Travel Bill will allow disabled people and those aged 60 and over to use their concessionary passes on any off peak bus journey in England. But it would be the council where the free bus journey begins that will have to pick up the cost of the journey.

As London attracts more visitors than any other part of the country, it means that boroughs could be faced with a large additional bill to pay for these extra journeys. They could also face paying for older and disabled people using the sightseeing buses that take people on tours of the capital.

London boroughs already spend around £227 million a year to provide older and disabled Londoners with free travel on the capital's network of tubes, trams, buses and trains through the Freedom Pass.

The government has set aside £212 million for England to help cover the costs faced by councils as a result of the scheme. Now London Councils is set calling on the government to target this funding to areas like London that attract more visitors than other parts of the country.

Chairman of London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee, Cllr Daniel Moylan, said:

"For the last 20 years boroughs have given the capital's older and disabled people the opportunity to travel free of charge across London. I am delighted people from across the country will also soon enjoy the independence a wider free bus travel scheme will give them.

"However, as the capital is a magnet for tourists, the current government proposals will mean London boroughs could be left to bear the burden of providing this benefit. We welcome all visitors to this great city but we should not have to pay to enable them to travel around it.

"These concessionary fares must be fair for all and the only way to do this is for the government to provide specific grants to areas like London. Otherwise it will mean that London's council tax payers will be taken for an unwelcome ride."

Currently people from outside London can only use their concessionary bus passes in their own local areas.

Under national legislation sightseeing tour buses and airport coaches are currently seen as local services under the Bill.

The Freedom Pass gives disabled people free access on the capital's tube, bus and tram services at any time and on national rail services in the capital after 9.30am. Those aged 60 or over can travel free on the tube, bus and tram services after 9am and on national rail services in London from 9.30am.

London's boroughs have paid for and operated the Freedom Pass for 23 years.

The Concessionary Bus Travel Bill is currently going through the House of Commons.

Any member of the media wanting more information should contact Stewart Henderson in the London Councils press office on 020 7934 9620 or atstewart.henderson@londoncouncils.gov.uk